For Luis Magana, he’s envisioned a team that isn’t willing to back down, regardless of the other jersey across the pitch.
So when he brought on Jesse Reinitz – who has both his daughters Ramona and Eva on the Centralia High School girls soccer team – the primary objective was to bump up the Tigers’ strength.
“Credit to him, he’e been working with them; paired up to be a good team,” Magana said. “Bringing that aggression is what made a little difference from last year. We’re getting there.”
Centralia committed plenty of fouls and Ramona Reinitz was even handed a yellow card in the 71st minute. Still, it wasn’t enough.
R.A. Long sophomore Josie Sully broke a 1-1 contest in the 58th minute that ended up as the game-winner in a 2-1 victory over the Tigers on Thursday night in the season-opener at Tiger Stadium.
Sully scored both goals for the Lumberjills (1-0), who graduated the GSHL MVP and brought in a new coach off a state tournament appearance. The midfielder tied the game in the 34th minute.
“I am proud of them for the first time, that we were the first ones to score,” Magana said. “Now, we just have to be able to hold the lead.”
Centralia (0-1) lost plenty of key pieces off last year’s group that made the Class 2A District 4 tournament. What has gnawed at Magana has been the early playoff exits.
The last two years, the Tigers have been in a pigtail game and went one-and-done.
For as deep as the GSHL is, Magana didn’t shy away from thinking Thursday was a potential pigtail preview in two months.
“I felt like we did pretty well in the first half,” Magana said. “Just wanted to see how we’d match up against (each other).”
The physicality was evident from kickoff.
R.A. Long and Centralia weren’t giving an inch of separation once the ball found a foot. A bounty of fouls were whistled in both directions. As the match wore on, it only intensified. Lumberjills goalie Iliana Ruiz was shaken up in the first half and their midfielder Breslyn Scheel had to be helped off in the final 10 minutes.
“I want them to play physical, but smart,” Magana said.
Ramona Reinitz, who played her one and only game of the season prior to having shoulder surgery, left with a goal.
Triangle passes set up the junior on the right side of the field and laced a shot over the head of Ruiz to put the Tigers in front in the 31st minute.
“That was great,” Magana said. “Probably the highlight of the match.”
Even after Sully’s two goals, Centralia had a handful of chances on set pieces that weren’t converted. It finished with 10 total shots and nine of them on frame. Goalie Nena Venegas-Minor finished with five saves in her first start.
The loss itself upsets Magana, but he understands the bigger picture. Centralia will attempt to get its first win next week on Tuesday at River Ridge.
“It was a big motivator,” Magana said. “We don’t want to plateau at the pigtail game. Let’s get over that hump.”
