Eagles split first two girls soccer tests

HOOD RIVER — Hood River Valley’s (HRV) girls soccer team split nonleague matches during week No. 1 of the season and will contend this week with two of the state’s stronger programs when Canby and Caldera come to town.

Coach Kevin Haspela’s squad shut out an experienced Ridgeview team, 3-0, on Sept. 1 at Henderson Stadium, but the Eagles lost two days later at Mountain View of Bend, 2-1.

Up next for HRV are 2025 state playoff teams Canby on Sept. 8 (after press deadline) and Caldera on Sept. 10. Both matches have scheduled 7 p.m. starts under the stadium lights.

Those lights shined brightly on the Eagles in their opener against Ridgeview. HRV kept the ball in its offensive half of the field for three-fourths of the match.

The first goal was set up by defender Alyra Elliott, who intercepted and controlled a potential through-ball from Ridgeview on the left side of the field. She passed the ball forward to Keira Brennan near midfield, who alertly tapped the ball forward. Ellie Giordano ran onto the pass and one-touched the ball further down the left side. She then sprinted past an oncoming Ridgeview defender.

Giordano beat the defender to the ball, tapped it once before nailing a powerful left-footed shot into the upper left corner of the net.

The Eagles went ahead 2-0 on Ellie Kinsfogel’s rebound shot. Josie Faaborg took a return pass on the left side and her hard, left-footed shot from 15 yards away bounced in front of the Ridgeview keeper. She chested the ball but couldn’t control it and Kinsfogel was in the right place. Her one-touch with her right foot into the lower right corner of the net completed the chance.

Lily Clermont ran onto a long through-ball and dribbled ahead before she converted the Eagles’ third goal into the left side of the net with about 10 minutes remaining.