It took the W.F. West girls soccer team to settle in against Kelso in its season opener on Thursday, but once the Bearcats did, they never looked back.
Lauren Kelly got the Bearcats on the board in the 18th minute, Ashlen Gruginski added another goal early in the second half, and W.F. West was able to hold on for a 2-1 win on the Kelso turf.
“It took us about five to ten minutes to get the nerves out,” W.F. West coach Kevin Schultz said. “Once we got out of that, we controlled the game. We moved the ball really well and came out of halftime really well.”
Schultz was thrilled with the intensity he saw from his team, which stayed consistent even as he made several substitutions throughout the game. By the final whistle, 21 different Bearcats had gotten into the game.
“The energy and atmosphere within the team was unlike anything I’ve experienced as a head coach,” Schultz said. “They’re really close, and it’s a lot of good kids. They’re bought in. That’s a really good sign for us going forward.”
Schultz also commended his defense, specifically Kenley Fragner, Lucy Hornby, and Violet Ratke, which held Kelso scoreless until the 73rd minute.
He said they helped “make things predictable” for Charlee Nelson, who finished with six saves in net.
The Bearcats will hit the road again on Tuesday to face Woodland. It’s the second game of a four-game road trip that also includes trips to Elma on Thursday and Evergreen (Vancouver) on Wednesday, Sept. 17.
