ADNA — It was seemingly only a matter of time.
Yes, the Adna girl’s soccer team hadn’t won any of its first seven games heading into Monday’s game against Toledo, touting an 0-4-3 record. But after a loaded non-league slate that included matchups against 3A Kelso and 1A schools, the Pirates were more than prepared for league play.
They played to a 1-1 draw against Napavine in their league opener on Wednesday, but on Monday, junior Lydia Tobin and the rest of the offense exploded, and the Pirates rolled to a 4-0 win over the Riverhawks (1-5-1, 0-2-0 C2BL).
“We made that schedule to kind of prepare us for league,” Adna coach Patrick Richardson said. “It’s nice to see that ball hit the back of the net a little bit.”
It took a few minutes for the Pirates (1-4-3, 1-0-1 C2BL) to get their first shot, but once they got the first, they began firing away. In the 15th minute, Tobin got Adna on the board.
“Once things started going, we were playing like we’ve been playing the last few games,” Richardson said. “And starting to put the pieces together and work on that offensive end … it was a good finish for where we’ve been at.”
Moments later, the Riverhawks were threatening on the other end, and Zaya Norberg punched home a rebound off the post, but the goal was disallowed due to an offsides call.
That was the closest that the Riverhawks came to equalizing, however. The Pirates kept the pressure on throughout the rest of the half, and Tobin scored her second to double their advantage on the final kick of the first half.
Even as the rain picked up in the second half, the Pirates still managed to create scoring opportunities.
In the 45th minute, Bailey Naillon scored from just outside the penalty area to make it 3-0, and Tobin completed her hat-trick in the 66th minute.
In the draw against Napavine, Richardson said that Tobin was a tick off on her shots, so it was nice to see her relax and dial in on Monday.
“She stepped it up big time,” Richardson said.
While the rain didn’t impact the Pirates for most of the second half, it did potentially keep a fifth goal off the board. In the 77th minute, Sudaa Druck-Ewan had the ball at her foot in the box after a deflection and a clear shot on net. Instead, the ball slid off her cleat and softly rolled out for a goal kick.
Toledo starting keeper Hope Gould had 10 saves on the night. In the second half, she was subbed out for Abril Cabrera, who saved two shots.
With the first win out of the way, Richardson said he is excited to build on it as they get into the meat of the league year, and he knows that while the results may not have been there early this season, it will only help down the line.
“They were teams we knew were gonna be competitive,” Richardson said. “It would definitely be something to help push us to where we wanted to be by the time league season hit.”
Toledo is back on the pitch on Wednesday at home against Kalama, while the Pirates aren’t back in action until next Monday, when they’ll head to Winlock.
