Becca Schoales might be a freshman, but there’s nothing timid about her performance on the soccer field.
And with South Kitsap struggling to score in its nonleague match Tuesday at Olympic, Schoales had no problem attempting a shot from 35 yards out. The ball beat senior goalkeeper Darrien Dorr in the 21st minute to help the Wolves to a 1-0 victory.
“I just saw an opening and didn’t think about it,” Schoales said. “I just hit it.”
South coach Julie Cain was effusive in her praise of the goal.
“It was one of the best high-school shots I’ve ever seen,” she said. “She can shoot from anywhere.”
Olympic coach Steve Haggerty said he wished his team applied more pressure on the shot, but otherwise was happy with the Trojans’ defensive performance.
“I was very pleased with the way we defended,” he said, citing the play of defenders Jalyn Halstead, MacKenzy Hudkins, Gabby Tyner and Breanna Yocum. “We pretty much were on our heels all day. Our defense held stout.”
The Wolves (2-0) outshot Olympic 17-3.
“I think we can attack harder,” Cain said. “You should get a goal out of six corner kicks.”
Haggerty said his team struggled to match up with the Wolves’ speed. But he feels it was good preparation for Olympic (2-1) to face a South squad that advanced to the state tournament last year and plays in a higher classification. The Wolves are in the 4A Narrows League, while the Trojans compete in the 2A/3A Olympic League.
It also provided an opportunity for Cain, a former assistant coach with Seattle Pacific University, to experiment with the lineup before league play begins. Junior Dana Goularte (center-midfielder), a transfer from the Life Christian Academy in Tacoma, and freshman Miranda Caballero (center back) swapped positions.
“That’s a move that will stick,” Cain said. “It will be fantastic to have a freshman running our back and a freshman (Schoales) scoring at top. Those two are a dynamic combination.”
Cain found several aspects of the match to be enjoyable. Her goalkeepers — senior Holly Sieler and sophomore Brianna Smallidge — combined for the shutout. She also cited the creativity of senior midfielder Christina Boddie along with the work of outside backs Riley Dopps and Brianna Waldron “changing the point of attack.”
“I think that looks really good,” she said.
South won its opener 4-2 against Roosevelt on Sept. 8, but besides missing some scoring opportunities, she likes how her team is developing.
“We just need a little time to work things out,” Cain said. “I think we improved a lot over our last game.”
South Kitsap 1, at Olympic 0
First half: 1, South Kitsap, Becca Schoales, 21st minute.
