By Gerardo Bolong
Contributing Writer
Highline controlled the field action almost entirely to grab a 5-0 girls soccer victory against Tyee at Valley Ridge Park in SeaTac on Thurs., Oct. 5.
"There wasn't much energy (at first)," said Highline head coach Eduardo Millan. "We've got to work on pressuring the ball more for the long term. The girls were too excited because they wanted to score right away. After the first goal, it opened up."
Highline began the match by infiltrating Tyee territory immediately, but was missing a finishing punch until the eighth minute.
Senior Yesenia Cornejo ran into close range from the right side to deliver a left-footed kick just inside the right side of the net for the Pirates.
"This game was okay," she said. "We started communicating more to score."
This opened up the HHS attack as sophomore forward Gabriela Gonzalez cleared for a Pirate goal in the 30th minute just ahead of another Gonzalez goal four minutes later.
The strikes just kept on coming until freshman Abby Sagmoen increased the Pirate lead to 4-0 after roaming down the right side quickly for a close in goal in the 40th minute.
Working against a mixture of Highline starters and reserves, the hard trying Totems were able to gain a more even field in the second half although the Pirates still gained a slight advantage of field position.
Gonzalez earned the hat trick for HHS with the only goal scored in the second half.
"There was more pressure from us after our slow start," she said.
Senior goalkeeper Iris Cortez earned the shut out.
For Tyee, the going has been rough, but third-year head coach Seyti Sidibay commended his girls for working through hard situations.
Early in the first half, Tyee lost Mariana Aguiniga to a right knee injury, making tasks tougher.
"We've lost a lot of players through injuries and interest in other sports since I started here," he said. "Of the nine freshmen we had, only three are still on the team, now. The girls are staying positive. When one person goes down, another steps up. Transfer student Jordyn Gifford has been a shining light."
