TENINO — Systems in soccer are like a coin. One side can be more attacking, allowing the midfielders and a striker to play up and generate chances through quick passes and through balls.
The other side is defensive, keeping two or three players forward, but making some midfielders into extra defenders. All of it depends on team strengths and in the blink of an eye within a match, it can all change.
For the Centralia High School girls soccer program, it was very clear what head coach Luis Magana wanted. He plopped Jocelyn Navarro and Olivia Gruginski smack dab in the middle and let the attack go through them, coupled with long balls from the back.
“We had a couple of girls that were waiting for their opportunity,” Magana said. “I want us to play where we’re creating gaps.”
Those two have graduated, but if a summer scrimmage against Tenino last Thursday was any indication, the next pair could fit in seamlessly,
Ana Blankenship and Trinity Smith each scored a goal for the Tigers in a 2-1 victory at Tenino High School over the course of the 80-minute match. Smith scored in the first period and Blankenship found the back of the next in the second period.
Centralia’s defense, which also is going through some changes, held Tenino to little opportunities in the final two periods.
“I like the chemistry they’re forming right now,” Magana said. “I’m trying to play more triangle passes.
Going from the wings to the center midfield for Blankenship and Smith isn’t a big shift mentally or physically. Still, it does lead to the ball at their feet more times than not. For much of the match, that duo possessed the ball in the attacking-third.
If Centralia aims to get above .500 overall and in Evergreen 2A Conference action, it isn’t shying away from what needs to happen.
“The biggest thing is communication,” Magana said. “Understand where everyone is at.”
The same principle applies to Cyndal Sills and Dina Silva, moving from outside backs to center backs in the Tigers’ back line. They’ll be tasked to lead a defense that will also feature a new goalie.
Against the two teams ahead of Centralia in the league standings — Tumwater and W.F. West — it went 0-4 and was outscored 18-0. The Tigers lost in the district opener 2-1 to Mark Morris.
And any chance at a state tourney berth gets harder in 2025 with District 4 only having three spots.
“They can set themselves up for success,” Magana said. “The league could be up for grabs. I’m motivating them; just keep putting in the work. We have the potential to be great.”
