The W.F. West girls soccer team got back into the win column thanks to a shutdown defensive effort and an unlikely goalscorer in a 1-0 non-league win at Eatonville on Saturday.
With the Bearcats (3-5, 2-2 2A EvCo) down eight varsity players and running with a short bench in a game that didn’t count toward the league standings, first-year coach Kevin Schultz mixed some things up at halftime, pulling starting goalkeeper Staysha Fluetsch out of the net and slotting her up top.
Twenty minutes later, Fluetsch made the most of the chance, scoring the game-winner off an assist from Emily Mallonee.
Before coming up, Fluetsch made one save in the first half. Freshman Charlee Nelson, who went in between the sticks for her, made four saves in the second half.
In front of them, sophomore Berkeley Varick slotted into the back line for her first start, helping pave the way to the shutout.
“Overall, I’m very proud of the girls for getting the win on the road at the end of a long week, missing so many players,” Schultz said. “They dug deep and found a way to get the job done.”
W.F. West will get back to its league slate Tuesday, with a trip to Black Hills.
