Tukwila, WA - After securing two pre-season scrimmage wins, the women's soccer team met their first challenge in the opening week of the regular season at the NWAC Friendlies. On Tuesday, EvCC squared off against east region opponent Blue Mountain CC out of Pendleton, OR. The Timberwolves entered the regular season with a 2-1 pre season record and like the Trojans showed that they can put the ball in the back of the net, and true to form broke past the Trojan defense three times in the first half to take a commanding 3-0 lead heading into the break. EvCC is without their two leading goal scorers, sophomores Emily Marriott and Elizabeth Martinez who both suffered injuries during the pre season contests. If the Trojan were to compete they would need someone else to step up, and they got just that in the 71st minute from sophomore transfer Emily Morandi. A minute later, Morandi struck again getting the assist from freshman Gabriella Capetillo, and just like that the Trojans were back in the match trailing 3-2 with 18 minutes to play in the match. EvCC kept the pressure on, outshooting BMCC 6-4 in the second half and forcing the Blue Mountain keeper to make 4 crucial second half saves. In the end, the Trojans could not find the equalizing goal, despite shots on goal by Denisha Nash, Capetillo, Paige Runcorn, and Amanda Szechenyi. Freshman goalkeeper Ruby Wacker made five saves for the Trojans, two in the first half and three in the second.
On day two of the Friendlies, the Trojans faced a familar opponent in Green River College. The Trojans have faced GRC in two scrimmages last year, but this would be the first regular season meeting with the Gators since 2014 (the year the Trojans won the NWAC Championship), resulting in a dominating 6-1 EvCC Victory. The Gators, a program on the rise, went 7-11-1 a season ago, and were coming off of a big 2-0 win over Southwestern Oregon the previous day. Despite a near event shot count in the first half, Green River rattled off three goals on 6 shots compared to EvCC's 0 on 5 shots. Again trailing 3-0 at the half, Everett would find some offensive continuity later in the game with Emily Morandi scoring unassisted for her third goal on the young season. Again Everett would go shot for shot with the Gators in the second half, but after conceding the 52nd minute goal, GRC's defense held fast to keep the 3-1 lead. Sophomore Paige Runcorn recorded 3 shots on frame but was unable to get one past the keeper. She still hunts for her first goal of the season to add to her career total of three. Ruby Wacker made three saves to keep a clean sheet in the 2nd half and made 5 total on the day.
Even with the two losses, the Trojans showed bright spots, scoring second half goals in both matches as well as holding the opponents scoreless in the second half. Emily Morandi proved to be a legitimate goal scoring threat and freshman Ruby Wacker will only improve her confidence with each game in front of the net.
The Trojans now have a long gap in the schedule to get healthy and rest up before north region play starts on September 6th. EvCC will travel to #1 ranked Peninsula College who is 2-0 on the season thus far with decisive wins over #4 Lower Columbia (8-1) and Centralia College (5-0). Kick off is set for 2pm and will be streamed live on the NWAC Sports Network.