9/20/16
Yelm 3, North Thurston 0
(Lacey, WA) The Yelm Tornados have been turning their program around under coach Jay Dorhauser and this season hoping to take another step and so far have been competitive and came into the match with North Thurston with an even 2-2 record and 1-1 in South Sound Conference play.
The young Rams came in 0-4 and 0-2 in league play but Coach Brian Bigelow knew this was going to be a challenging season coming in with no seniors on the team and a bunch of Freshman getting their first varsity experience.
Yelm would send a message in the 1st 20 seconds of the match when Imani Tustison fired a shot that hit the crossbar and over the top just missing a goal. The Tornados would have several other chances with 6 corner kicks and a couple of penalty kicks from about 25-yards out but would only convert 1 of those opportunities.
The 4th corner kick was also the most unlikely chance as Emily Nesheim launched it into the box and it bounced off the back of Adrianna Hernandez and re-directed the ball that then rolled into the net just out of the reach of the Rams keeper Emma Smith.
In the 2nd half, the Tornados wasted little time in doubling their lead. In the 42nd Val Morales took the loose ball got into a 1 on 1 with the keeper and punched past her for the 2-0 lead. The 2 teams would battle back and forth and the Rams had a couple of opportunities with the best coming from Autumn Hakes who drilled a shot off the cross bar.
Yelm would add a 3rd goal in stoppage time on yet another Hernandez at the right place at the right time goal. This time Sophie Hall fired in a shot that deflected off Hernandez and into the net for the final score.
Our Tommy Lowe Players of the Game went to Val Morales for Yelm for her laser shot goal and solid defense, for North Thurston Madison Vu who played tough in the mid field and backline. Our ProActive Physical Therapy Play of the Game went to Neshiem and Hernandez who teamed up for the 1st and winning goal.
The Tornados improve to 2-1 in league play and 3-2 overall, the Rams fall to 0-2 and 0-5.
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