The North Thurston girls soccer team scored early and often in its season opener against Shelton Tuesday night, pocketing four goals in the first 25 minutes en route to a 4-0 win at South Sound Stadium.
Freshmen Aarya Bougher and Londyn McKenzie each had a hand in three of those goals. Bougher assisted on the first goal in the sixth minute to Samantha Howard, and Bougher used a pass from McKenzie for an 11th-minute goal.
In the 19th minute, McKenzie found the back of the net off an assist from Lillianna Bonnin, and McKenzie dished her second assist of the game for Bougher’s second goal of the game in the 25th minute.
“I thought we played a really strong first half to start our season. Our girls came ready to go from the start and played with a lot of intensity,” North Thurston coach Tristan Glaser said. “It was really nice to see Londyn and Aarya be so heavily involved in our goals in their first game as freshmen.”
Senior Royal Rodriguez controlled the game in the midfield, and senior Keara Watlington impressed the coaches on defense.
“It’s a good foundation for us to have knowing that we can score goals while also keeping them out at the other end,” Glaser said. “While our second half wasn’t as clean as the first, we still controlled much of the game and limited Shelton to few dangerous chances.”
Next up for North Thurston (1-0) is a road trip to Kelso Thursday night.
