One of the most prolific goal scorers for the Centralia High School girls soccer team put pen to paper on Friday afternoon.

Olivia Gruginski, a three-time first team all-Evergreen Conference selection, signed with Pacific Lutheran University, an NCAA Division III program in Parkland, Washington.

She joins a bevy of PNW players on the Lutes’ roster, coached by Seth Spidahl.

“I’ve always wanted to play college soccer,” Gruginski said. “I was really happy I got a very good offer. Really exciting for me.”

The midfielder/forward had a connection to PLU that struck initial interest.

Kate Green, Gruginski’s club coach who had a front row seat to her blossoming to score 32 goals over the last three seasons, was a former assistant coach for a decade for the Lutes.

The two had conversations about one of the premier programs in the Northwest Conference and Gruginski was hooked.

She plans on studying early childhood education.

“Just excited to get more good coaching and I want to be academically good, too,” Gruginski said.

Also a three-time all-area honoree, Gruginski will be walking into a program that is on a run of success. The Lutes won 16 matches a season ago, 14 in the conference, and triumphed in the first round of the DIII national tournament.

Under Spidahl, they have won double digit games in 11of the 13 seasons he’s been at the helm. In that stretch has been eight straight conference titles and seven national tourney bids.

That, alongside representing the Centralia community, is what excites Gruginski.

“I hope we can continue to win and go on those fun trips,” she said. “I’m very happy to have gotten to play for Centralia these last four years.”