Few soccer players score five goals in a game. Even fewer scored 30 goals in a season and reset their school’s single-season scoring record. Toledo senior forward Marina Smith did all three during the 2021-22 season.
Smith, the Central 2B League’s South Division Offensive MVP, broke the school’s previous record of 28 goals in a season and then helped the Riverhawks to a third-place finish at districts and a state berth.
She would then go on to help the Riverhawks edge Friday Harbor in the state opener and then aided the team in erasing a two-goal deficit to vault to the state semifinals and secure the program’s first-ever state trophy; a fourth-place finish.
It was Smith’s knack for finding goals, something she’s done a lot of the past three years. She’s made The Chronicle’s All-Area Girls Soccer Team three years in a row now, this time as the All-Area MVP.
Her sophomore campaign ended in 20 goals and 10 assists across 20 matches. As a junior, during a shortened six-week season due to COVID, she was third in the county with 11 goals in just eight games.
And now, across 22 games as a senior, Smith ends her final high school season with 30 goals and 10 assists, which includes a five-goal performance during a win against Winlock on Sept. 29.
Her scoring prowess is due to her usually being one step ahead of opposing defenders, Toledo coach Noel Vazquez said.
“Marina is very smart, with or without the ball,” Toledo coach Noel Vazquez said. “Whenever she gets a chance to take a shot, she will take it. And whenever she can pass, she will pass. She’s very unselfish and a hard worker.
“She asks questions every day about what she can do to get better, or what the team needs to get better. Whenever she moves on to play college, they will get a true athlete, and their program will automatically get better with her on the roster”
All-Area Team
Alex Cleveland-Barrera, Sr. — Onalaska
Opposing coaches consistently considered Cleveland-Barrera the best keeper in the region, and the senior delivered this season with 111 saves, an 89% save rate, eight clean sheets and five shutouts.
Rose Dillon, sr. — Toledo
The senior helped Toledo to its first state trophy in program history, breaking the record for single season assists (23) and helping the Riverhawks grab a fourth-place trophy at the state tournament. She also added 11 goals to her resume.
Kaylynne Dowling, sr. — W.F. West
Though the senior missed time with an injury this season, Dowling was stout on defense, leading one of the top defensive units in the area and also scoring two goals and recording an assist.
Alivia Hunter, sr. — Tenino
One of many Beaver seniors that helped the program to historic highs, Hunter found the back of the net five times and assisted on five more, while controlling the defensive half as a midfielder, all the while earning first-team all league honors.
Macy Kalnoski, sr. — Adna
Kalnoski, in her first full season at keeper, earned first-team honors in the North Division after allowing just 15 goals (.77 per game). She racked up 78 total saves and 11 shutouts, and conceded just one goal in the state playoffs. She also scored seven goals when she was able to play the field.
Callie Lawrence, sr. — Onalaska
The C2BL South MVP scored seven goals and assisted on three more, all the while leading the Loggers to a fourth-place run at districts and the sixth overall seed in the state tournament.
Megan Letts, sr. — Tenino
The 1A Evergreen League Offensive MVP was a force for the Beavers all season, captaining Tenino to a third-place finish in District 4 and yet another state berth. Letts scored 11 goals and dished out 10 assists on the season.
Natayla Marcial, sr. — Napavine
With 17 goals, four assists, and a first-team all league honor to her name, Marcial helped the Tigers finish second in the C2BL North this season.
Sarah Robbins, jr. — Centralia
Earning first-team all league honors for the second season in a row, Robbins scored four goals and registered four assists for the Tigers this season in Centralia.
Brooklyn Sandridge, jr. — Onalaska
The junior’s 23 goals this season puts her near the top of the area’s scorers, and Sandridge also fed four assists throughout the year. Sandridge helped the Loggers to a fourth-place finish at districts and another state playoff berth, while earning first-team all league.
Andee Schaffran, sr. — Tenino
Starring at center back for the Beavers, the first-team all league pick helped guide a Tenino back line that only allowed 14 goals in 21 games and had 13 shutouts.
Cameron Sheets, jr. — W.F. West
The first-team all league pick finished up her Bearcat career with 12 goals in her last season, with five assists. Led by Sheets in the front, W.F. West finished second in the 2A Evergreen Conference.
Presley Smith, sr. — Adna
Presley Smith earned North Division MVP honors after leading a Pirates’ offense that outscored opponents 60-15. She finished with 12 goals and 11 assists, and scored two critical set-piece direct kicks vs. Cle Elum and Okanogan in the state playoff.
Madi Stark, sr. — Adna
Stark, a first-team, all-league defender, was the defensive leader for a Pirates team that allowed just 15 goals, including just one in the state playoffs. Stark also scored the pivotal goal in the state semifinals vs. Toledo with the seventh PK kick that sent Adna to the state title game.
Makensee Taliaferro, sr. — Napavine
The Tiger senior was another member of the 20 goals club, earning C2BL North Division Offensive MVP honors, and also dishing out one assist for a Tigers team that finished second in the division.
