Ask Dylan Stevens what his expectations were as a freshman, he would have leaned towards individual numbers and accolades.
He’s a striker. Has been his entire prep career for the Tumwater High School boys soccer team. Scoring goals is second nature.
With experience comes maturity, with maturity comes shifting the mindset.
So, what does Stevens want this year to look like?
“I want to get these younger guys to state again,” the senior said. “I feel like we have the talent to do that. We have a better team.”
Goals may not be a common occurrence with facing double and triple markers. Still, the reigning Evergreen Conference MVP isn’t going to forfeit the chances to find the back of the net.
He didn’t on Friday night.
Two goals in an eight-minute span from Stevens was all the Thunderbirds needed to record a 2-0 triumph over Centralia in an EvCo match at Tiger Stadium.
“We just had to stay mentally strong and we knew the chances were going to come,” Stevens said.
It caps a four-match in eight-day stretch for Tumwater (3-4, 2-0 EvCo) where it went 2-2. Coach John Hayes’ squad have responded from a 1-4 non-league mark with back-to-back league victories.
“I purposefully went to our AD and said we want tougher matches,” Hayes said.
It was far from an ideal start for Tumwater.
With it being the first season on the new turf at Tiger Stadium, it caused an adjustment on the speed of the ball on through balls. Passes were just a tick off and crosses didn’t connect.
“Their speed and skill in the midfield just kind of took us off our game,” Hayes said. “Decided to tighten up their two center-mids. Dylan needed to get tougher on the ball up top and he did; he was a force.
“In this league, if you don’t show up, the other team is going to win. Three-to-four years ago, that wasn’t the case.”
The Thunderbirds came out more aggressive in the second half, aided by six corner kicks and 10 total shots. Gavin Cuoio delivered a long ball to Stevens that the latter had to run by his defender, reset and found the back of the net in the 60th minute.
The Portland State football recruit was fouled inside the box in the 66th minute and fired a penalty kick two minutes later.
“Just enjoying it every moment,” Stevens said. “Truly having fun this year. I just want to see the team succeed.”
“He’s a big guy, very physical and he works his body and his positioning really well,” Centralia head coach Noel Vazquez added. “Tear and wear over the whole game, at some point, he’s going to have one that breaks loose.”
Tumwater goalie Davyn McGilvrey secured his second shutout of the game with five saves. Centralia, meanwhile, saw the league’s returning Goalkeeper of the Year leave the match in the second half.
Alejandro Arevalo – who came out to come away with several saves – suffered cramps in both legs and Vazquez made the decision to keep him off the field with 10 minutes left in regulation.
Junior Kycen Donahue came in and recorded a jump save on a Cuoio free kick attempt on the first ball post-stoppage.
“We couldn’t rub the cramp out,” Vazquez said.
The Tigers (3-3, 0-2) dominated possession in the first 10-to-20 minutes of the first half and notched a couple scoring chances that sailed either too high or too wide.
It wasn’t enough for an early goal and they went into the locker room knotted at zeroes.
“We had a really good gameplan,” Vazquez said. “They were able to make it interesting. In any game, if you don’t do what you need to do when you have the ball, a little lack of concentration is all it takes for them to put it in the back of your (net).”
Tumwater will return to the field on April 8 against city rival Black Hills while Centralia takes on W.F. West in Chehalis on Tuesday for the first of two Swamp Cup meetings.
