In its fifth match of the season, the Centralia girls soccer team found its goals, and it found them in bulk with a second-half barrage to beat Rochester 5-0.
“These girls scored 10 total goals last year, all year together,” head coach Noel Vasquez said. “To score five today really makes them goal-hungry for the upcoming games.”
Olivia Gruginski gave the Tigers their first fast start of the fall with a goal three minutes into the match, off an assist from Trinity Smith.
That would be it on the scoreboard until halftime, with the Tigers failing to extend their lead. It wasn’t for a lack of trying, though; Centralia got eight shots on target in the opening 40 minutes.
In the second half, that pressure ratcheted up, and the results quickly followed. Gruginski cashed in with a goal on a free kick in the 45th minute, then sealed her hat trick in the 60th off a feed from Alia Gomez.
Isabelle Gruginksi joined in on the fun with a goal of her own in the 67th minute, and Anahi Corona made it 5-0 in the 74th, with Olivia Gruginksi assisting.
Centralia finished with 17 shots on target at the final horn and three corners, never letting up.
“We just tried to make sure we kept pushing forward, and at the same time trying out different plays and different positions and seeing what works best for us and what combinations on the field look more fluid so we can make those adjustments going forward into the next game,” Vasquez said.
That next game will take place at home next Tuesday, against Shelton.
