The W.F. West girls soccer team scored off a corner kick early in the first half at Black Hills on Thursday, and that goal stood as the game’s only score in the Bearcats’ 1-0 victory.
The win keeps W.F. West undefeated, and it also handed Black Hills its first loss of the season.
“It really had a true playoff atmosphere,” W.F. West coach Kevin Schultz said. “We knew it was gonna be a really tough and competitive game. Both teams were playing with energy. It was just a really fun, enjoyable game … When you come out on the winning side of those games, you’re super excited.”
The Bearcats were pressuring the Black Hills defense early, and though Ashlen Gruginski was taking the corner kicks, she requested to switch out so she could try to win the ball in the middle.
She did just that, as she won Wyatt Rogerson’s corner out of the air and volleyed it into the net to put W.F. West on the board.
The Bearcats had chances to add on later in the game, but an insurance goal never came.
Black Hills came close to tying it on multiple occasions, including a late free kick into the box, but Violet Ratke won a header and was able to clear the ball. Charlee Nelson finished with eight saves in net.
“We were really committed to the defensive work,” Schultz said while complimenting his entire back line and midfield. “They all did a really great job. All of them played super solid.”
W.F. West (5-0-1, 1-0 2A EvCo) will host Battle Ground in its final non-league game on Saturday afternoon in Chehalis, while Black Hills (6-1, 0-1 2A EvCo) will look to bounce back on Tuesday in Shelton.
