Women’s College Soccer: Lower Columbia pinches Pierce to remain unblemished
Red Devils haven't allowed a goal during 5-0 start
Jordan Nailon / Blast Zone Media
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A full week off did little to slow down the Lower Columbia College women’s soccer team. One week after defeating Bushnell University 4-0 in a non-league affair, the Red Devils knocked off Pierce 5-0, Wednesday, at Northlake Field, in NWAC West Conference play.
That win gave LCC a 5-0 record overall with five clean sheets to show for its efforts. So far the Red Devils have outscored their foes 26-0, but that doesn’t mean head coach Joe Chicks isn’t searching for area to improve.
“Honestly, tonight we probably weren’t at our best, but it’s nice when not your best is still a 5-0 win,” Chicks admitted.
Lower Columbia opened up a 2-0 lead in the first half thanks to a corner kick by Kari Pate in the 11th minute, and then an unassisted score by Angelina Hopwood in the 33rd minute.
Avery Kimball kicked off the scoring in the second half with an unassisted goal in the 67th minute, before Zoie Clay put the hosts up 4-0 in the 76th minute off an assist from Baylee Beck. Clay assisted on the final goal of the evening in the 81st minute, with Maddie Kohout putting the finishing touches on the scoring play.
The Red Devils’ defense has done its part to make things stress free for their goalies. Against Pierce, for instance, Jade Goulding needed to notch just one save to keep the season-long shutout intact.
And that style of play is no happy accident. It is a choice. It is a commitment.
“The biggest thing for us is we always want to have the ball. It requires us to be patient and then other times you can put your foot on the gas a little bit more,” Chicks explained. “When you played keep-away on the school yard, remember, nobody wanted to be in the middle. It’s no fun in there.”
The Red Devils had to replace plenty of talent in the offseason after a first place finish in the West Conference one year ago, and early returns indicate they have been successful in that quest.
Chicks mentioned center back Brooke Richardson, a sophomore transfer and freshman defender Ava Gibbs as key newcomers on the defensive end. He also noted freshman forward Avery Kimball and Alexia Valdez, a sophomore forward who transferred in from Clark, as essential additions on the offensive end.
“I think a lot of it is word of mouth. Word gets out and people are excited to be here and they like what they’re doing,” Chicks said of the program’s recruiting success since he took over the program in 2020. “We’re just honest. When we recruit we tell them they’re going to be held to a high standard… We’re trying to get them to another level. This isn’t supposed to be the last stop.”
And then, of course, there’s stalwart returners like forwards Rhyli Grim and Delaney McNett, along with captains Joely Renk (forward) and Scout Mathewson (defender). Not to mention the likes of forward Sydney Lulay, and other talented Red Devils who have a knack for turning in spectacular plays that don’t always have a spot in the box score.
All of that, and more, has been on full display for LCC this season. Pierce was just the latest victim to the Red Devils rapid synergy.
“The starters played really good and wore them down,” Chicks said. “Then we brought some players in off the bench with some energy and they started scoring.”
And with rivals like Clark and Centralia looking as tough as ever in the upper echelon of a talented conference, that’s the sort of play it will take for LCC to win the West once again.
“I think there’s quite a few teams in the West who can jump up and bite you,” Chicks said.
Lower Columbia (5-0, 3-0) will host South Puget Sound at Northlake Field on Saturday at noon.