EJ soccer team wins two in a row

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They must have left their capes at home.

Ava Shiflett and Iris Mattern played the part of soccer superheroes anyway, hoisting East Jefferson to a convincing 4-1 upset overpowering Sequim last week in Chimacum.

The two freshmen combined for three of EJ’s four second-half goals against Sequim.

Shiflett, a Chimacum striker on the combined team, booted the first goal in for EJ after catching the Wolves’ goalkeeper far outside the net early in the second half. 

East Jefferson unloaded with its second score midway through the half, with Macy Smith springing Kaylen Pray free on the right wing, who then passed to Shiflett in the center.

Shiflett’s pass to the far post found Savanna Hoffman, a Port Townsend junior on the EJ squad, who fired one in high into the net for the score. 

East Jefferson dominated in the first half, and not much changed in the second as the Wolves found few scoring opportunities against a smothering EJ defense.

Mattern rounded out the scoring for East Jefferson, with two scores in quick succession.

“It was a good game on our part, for sure,” said Coach Robert Cantley.

“Every game, we have steadily been improving. Wednesday’s game was our best performance so far,” he said.

The Wolves were missing a few of their regular starters for the contest.

“Sequim did have a little bit of depleted squad, but you can only play the team that’s in front of you,” Cantley said.

“It was a well-rounded display from everybody,” the coach added, praising Mattern for her third and fourth goals and Shiflett for capitalizing on the Sequim goalkeeper’s mistake.

“That’s the type of player she is,” Cantley said of Shiflett. “Despite being the smallest out there she’s the most fearless and aggressive.”

The defensive end had a standout showing, as well.

“We did really well; limited them to very, very few shots or any clear-cut opportunities, even though they did score one,” he said. “Overall, I felt pretty comfortable; I wasn’t nervous with the way we were defending.”

Senior Port Townsend goalkeeper Sorina Johnston kept Sequim scoreless in the first half, while Chimacum senior Katie Clark faced little pressure in the net during the second.

With the game scoreless at the break, the talk from coaches centered on staying the course.

“I basically told them to keep doing what they were doing,” Cantley said. 

“Just kind of slow down their thinking and not be in too much of a rush; try not to force things.”

Look for the opening spaces; stay calm.

“I felt like they did that really well,” he said.

EJ picked up its second win in a row with a 1-0 blanking of Olympic Saturday at Chimacum High.

It was a welcome turnaround from earlier in the season, when the Trojans tripped EJ 4-0.

Cantley noted the game got off to a rough start for East Jefferson as Olympic was in firm control, winning the midfield battle and easily dealing with his team’s blunt attack. 

After a minor tactical shift toward the end of the first half, Cantley said EJ started to exert a greater influence on the game and pumped up the pressure on the Olympic goal, going close with two chances and having a claim for penalty kick denied. 

After the scoreless first half, EJ came out with a renewed vigor and more physically direct challenge. 

The disruption paid off as the Olympic players became flustered and committed numerous fouls.

One foul resulted in a free kick from Mattern, who scored from 25 yards out with a clean shot to the goalkeeper’s right-hand side. 

Cantley noted the EJ defensive line of freshman Maggie Emery, sophomore Izzy McCracken, Johnston, and junior Aurin Asbell held firm and thwarted any Olympic attempt at offense. 

Mattern, sophomore Leah Harrison, and Chimacum junior Clare Johnson outmuscled and outmaneuvered the Trojan midfield while EJ forwards Hoffman, Shiflett, and Pray kept their defense under constant pressure. 

The shutout win pushed East Jefferson’s record to 3-3 in the Olympic League North with three games left in the season.