Hockinson High School’s girls soccer team is working to establish its identity as a young roster navigates a challenging league schedule, and a 2-1 victory over the R.A. Long Lumberjills on Thursday, Oct. 8, offered head coach Tony Ayala signs of progress.
The Hawks have relied on an influx of freshmen and underclassmen players this season after graduating eight seniors and losing seven starters from last year’s team, which reached the final four in Class 2A girls soccer. Injuries to key positions early in the season added to the adjustment.
Recently, the Hawks lost to Woodland in a golden-goal finish, surrendered a late goal against Ridgefield and Ayala said his team struggled against River in a 4-0 loss early last week. The results against the 2A Greater St. Helens League’s top programs prompted the team to refocus on the style of soccer that has defined the program.
“The thing that we keep looking back on is we don't have an identity,” Ayala said.
Ayala said Hockinson had strayed from its emphasis on possession, relying too heavily on long balls and individual athleticism rather than building attacks through the midfield.
“We've settled too much on just kicking the ball and hoping an athlete will make a play on it,” Ayala said. “And some of that is just inexperience when you're starting your five or six freshmen each week. That's going to happen.”
Against the Lumberjills, Hockinson made possession a priority, emphasizing movement through the midfield and getting the ball out wide to create scoring opportunities.
Ayala said the Hawks controlled much of the contest, dictated the pace and did enough offensively to secure the win.
Junior forward Charlotte Newton scored Hockinson’s first goal, while freshman midfielder/forward Kenzi Cayton added the second goal in the 2-1 victory on Oct. 8.
“I thought we outplayed them for most of the game,” Ayala said. “I thought we controlled the game, we dictated what we wanted to do and possessed really, really well through the middle. (That) was what we wanted to do.”
While the result was encouraging, Ayala said the Hawks still need to improve their finishing in the final third to put opponents away. He also stressed the importance of maintaining their physicality and aggressive play against talented, well-coached teams throughout the 2A GSHL.
After a matchup after press time on Tuesday, Oct. 13 against Mark Morris High School, the Hawks next travel to Hudson’s Bay High School on Thursday, Oct. 15, at 7 p.m. to seek revenge from an earlier loss to the Eagles. Hockinson is also scheduled to host the Washougal Panthers on Tuesday, Oct. 20 at 7 p.m.
Ayala sees the upcoming schedule as an opportunity for the young roster to continue developing ahead of the postseason. Hockinson’s immediate goal is to earn points and secure a district playoff berth, with a higher seed providing an additional advantage, Ayala said.
Ayala added the difficult matchups the 2A GSHL harvests this fall could serve as preparation for the postseason, particularly with three challenging games waiting at the end of the regular season against Woodland, Ridgefield and Columbia River.
“Every game we're evolving,” Ayala said. “Like I said, hopefully we can figure out our identity. I thought it was a big step tonight.”
For the Hawks, continuing to build on the performance will be critical as they look to turn early-season growing pains into a postseason opportunity.
“Our goal is to make just districts and the higher seed we can get the better,” Ayala said. “But what we want to do right now is just get points and have good performances along the way.”
