TENINO — When Hope Gould was a freshman for the Toledo High School girls soccer team, she was able to be a part of a state tournament atmosphere. Then the last two years, one and done in Class 2B District 4.
Now, perhaps by far and away one of the youngest teams in the eight-team field, the Riverhawks’ lone senior on the roster got a first-hand glimpse of their future playing in important matches.
“The last two years have been us reflecting on each other and this year, we finally committed,” Gould said. “We love each other inside and outside school, inside and outside soccer. I was looking forward to the younger classes coming up.
“They were the push we needed.”
Onica Chase laced a shot right to the bottom left corner of the net and with a stingy defense, that was all Toledo needed to upend Onalaska 1-0 on Thursday night in a district semifinal match at Tenino High School.
It sets up a showdown between the Riverhawks (10-6-1) and Napavine, who have not lost a league match this season, for the district championship on Saturday back in Tenino.
The two sides met in C2BL action in mid-October, a 2-1 victory by the Tigers.
“Whatever happened in the past doesn’t matter,” Toledo first-year head coach Horst Malunat said. “This is a whole new game. These girls they’re not used to being on the winning end of things and playing with a lead. They adjusted really well.”
As the final 10 minutes ticked down, the Riverhawks were maintaining possession and once the final whistle blew, they unleashed a screaming celebration and Gould’s smile was ear-to-ear.
“It made my heart feel really happy,” Gould said.
Much of the experience the Riverhawks have is in the midfield with Gould and junior Ryah Stanley, two of their captains. Chase, freshman Peyton Holter and eighth grader Xtyn Norberg occupy the wingers and forward spots.
That trio has speed to back-break an opposition’s defense. Malunat made a conscious effort to play wide this fall, then work crosses into the teeth of the defense from inside the 18-yard box.
Being on turf aided that game plan.
“The one advantage we have is Ony’s back line isn’t as fast so I tried to exploit that,” he stated. “This is an investment in the future. We can compete.”
Just eight days ago was when the Loggers and Riverhawks tangled in a sloppy and muddy regular season finale, won by the former 4-1. Field conditions were far from ideal and Malunat felt those issues complicated the contest.
Clear skies and little wetness were beneficial for Toledo. It dominated possession from the first whistle to the last and allowed just five total shots (three on goal) by Onalaska (11-5-1).
Of the 12 shots taken by the Riverhawks, nine came in the first half. Chase’s tally was from the right side of the pitch that nestled into the back of the net. The Riverhawks could have doubled the margin, but a point blank shot by Norberg was scooped up.
“We came in prepared and our heads were in the right spot,” Gould said. “I think the game started last week when we lost, not tonight.”
Come the second half, the Loggers had several chances to find an equalizer. One of them was a free kick that featured a scrum in front of Toledo goalie Abril Cabrera that somehow, someway, didn’t hit the net.
“That was lucky,” Malunat stated. “Just got to play a little smarter.”
Onalaska will attempt to return to the state tournament on Saturday, but will need to beat Raymond/South Bend in a winner-to-state contest. Toledo’s spot is already solidified, but could add to the trophy case.
In the role of an underdog, Malunat loves that mindset for his group.
“All the pressure is on Napavine,” he said. “We have something to prove.”
