The Centralia girls soccer team had a hard time getting on the front foot far from home Tuesday, losing 3-1 to Aberdeen in a 2A EvCo showdown in Grays Harbor County.
“They were the more physical team, and they came out with a gameplan,” Centralia coach Luis Magana Reyna said.
That gameplan focused on Centralia attackers Jaslin Corona and Olivia Gruginski, crashing hard to the pair up front as soon as they got the ball at their feet.
“We ran the ball up, but as soon as Jaslin or Gruginski got it, they were smothered,” Magana Reyna said. “Aberdeen collapsed on them.”
While the Tigers (6-3, 4-2 2A EvCo) were struggling to figure something out on offense, the Bobcats took advantage of a misplay at the back to score an easy opening goal in the 27th minute.
Aberdeen doubled its lead just before halftime on a penalty kick, and got a second PK in the 68th to make it 3-0.
Freshman Cyndal Sills drew the Tigers back a goal in the 76th, and while Magana Reyna said that sparked a period of control to end the game for Centralia, they couldn’t take advantage of it to make it any closer.
Centralia will start its second run through EvCo play on Thursday with a home match against Tumwater.
