For many of Centralia College’s women soccer players, Tuesday’s home match against Tacoma at Tiger Stadium was the first match they’ve played in nearly two years.
The young team, made up of 10 freshmen and four sophomores, hasn’t even had a chance to scrimmage yet this season. The rust and lack of cohesiveness showed as the Blazers fell 3-0 to the Titans in game one of the 2021 season.
“We pretty much beat ourselves in the first half,” Centralia College coach Clarence Gunderson said. “We’re trying to find chemistry and the freshmen don’t know the pace of the college game yet. The girls played well in the second half.”
The match was a little closer than the final score indicated as the Titans first scored in the opening minutes of the game and knocked their final shot in during the 80th minute to make it 3-0.
“Overall, for us, our transitional offense was our Achilles heel,” Gunderson said.
He praised freshman goalkeeper Marisol Vargas, an Alaska recruit, for her improved play in the second half, as well as sophomore left-back Alexis Thompson and the entire back line.
“It’s a good group,” Gunderson said. “I’m excited for them. Today was about getting the dust off our feet. I can tell we’re going to improve.”
Centralia College (0-1) gets back in action when it heads to Pierce College for a 1 p.m. match on Friday.
