The gameplan for the Tenino High School boys soccer team was thwarted quickly after the opening kick and they never recovered in an 8-1 loss to Raymond/South Bend on Wednesday night on the blacktop.
With the Ravens as the last unbeaten in the Evergreen League, the Beavers prioritized defense. Once RSB scored in the second minute, they attempted to adjust and never got their footing. The Ravens took a 3-0 lead into halftime and tallied five more goals in the final 40 minutes.
“Conceding (early) dropped the energy level,” Tenino head coach Lee Baker said. “RSB is a level above everyone else in the league.”
The Beavers (1-3, 1-3 Evergreen) did get a chance to celebrate eighth grader RJ Venesky’s first career varsity goal in the 58th minute. Miguel Espinoza delivered a well-timed ball and Venesky beat his defender and fired his shot past RSB’s goalie.
“Still ended up being a bright spot,” Baker said. “The team is going to come around. We (still) have a lot of growth that has happened.”
Tenino will take on Elma on Friday at home in a game Baker said he’s expecting his roster at full strength for the first time this spring.
