With three games remaining on the season, the young Yelm girls soccer team wants to end the season on a high note by picking up a league victory and continuing to play aggressively.
Head coach Jay Dorhauer noted the team is out of playoff contention but said he’d like to see the girls continue to play the opposition hard. Yelm, sporting a 1-10-2 record, is set to conclude the season with contests against River Ridge on Thursday, Oct. 19 at home and on the road against Gig Harbor on Tuesday, Oct. 24. The Tornados played at home against Central Kitsap on Tuesday, Oct. 17, but results weren’t available before publication.
“I’d like to see us create more scoring chances, whether we get goals out of it or not. It’d be great to win a game or two going out,” Dorhauer said. “We have two really tough opponents scheduled and a winnable game. We need to get a little momentum, some excitement building into next season.”
The coach applauded his team’s effort throughout the season, especially in matchups against more experienced programs. He said while the team might’ve been at a disadvantage in terms of experience, the ladies were never disadvantaged in effort.
“It’s no secret that soccer has been a struggle for us, as we don’t get as many club players as other teams, which is fine. We just have to work harder than other teams,” Dorhauer said. “We might not be the most talented team, but we do work hard. They show up night after night, and they come to practice ready to work hard. It’s not an effort issue.”
In a season full of learning and teaching moments, Dorhauer said the team has consistently improved throughout the year, and he noted Savannah Walker and Charlie Simon’s improvement especially.
“Savannah (Walker) has been a really solid defender for us this year. She still needs to work on some things, but as far as being a defender goes, she’s been great,” Dorhauer said. “Charlie (Simon) has really become a solid defender as well. Those two have been pleasant surprises.
“Mariah Arnestad missed a few games in the first half of the year, but when she’s in, she really makes a difference for us,” he said about two of the team’s juniors. “Holly (Dorhauer) has been rock solid for us all year too. She’s been really good.”
Freshman goalie Jada Katona has also stood out on the season, Dorhauer said. He described her emergence as a “wonderful surprise,” and said she’s kept a lot of games from getting out of hand.
As a unit, Dorhauer said the Tornados have been more patient in their play, which comes with confidence. He added that they have been focusing in practice on improving their first touch of the ball, amongst other skills.
“I think everyone is getting more comfortable out there. At the beginning of the year, some of them got the ball at their feet and panicked. In this league, you don’t have a lot of time to get rid of the ball. Defenders are on you really quick. As the season has progressed, the girls have become more comfortable. You have to be able to play fast but slow the game down, and I think they’re doing that now,” Dorhauer said. “We’ve learned to defend a lot better. A lot of people think defending is just going and stealing the ball, which isn't the case in soccer. It’s not just about going and tackling the ball, which is a hard habit to break. We’re finally playing smart defense and that’s helping.”
The Tornados final home matchup of the season is at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 19 against the River Ridge Hawks. Prior to the game, Yelm will celebrate its three seniors on Senior Night.
