Squalicum’s girls soccer is the second youngest squad in the Northwest Conference, only older than Nooksack Valley. Although Squalicum has eight freshmen and seven sophomores on the varsity roster, the Storm have a 5-3 record, including their latest 8-0 win against Mount Baker Thursday, Oct. 3.
“It feels great to have a good season as the youngest team but we are still proving ourselves,” Squalicum’s goalkeeper Kailana Perez said.
Perez had a handful of saves and was the first goalie to score two goals in a single game. Her freshman teammate Siri Hoglin also scored a hat trick, the first freshman hat trick in at least a decade for the Storm.
“We have three starting right now but we also have other freshmen who have been contributing and finding their way,” coach Jose Rodriguez said. “I am hoping that we can make some noise with these freshmen.”
Although those two were responsible for five goals, junior Kiarra Voigt scored the first goal in the 13th minute off a deflection from a Mountaineers defender. Hoglin scored the next two goals on a breakaway and rebound from a goalie deflection.
Mount Baker’s first attempt came from Faith Wilson in the 22nd minute. Wilson took a free-kick that forced Perez to make a leaping save. Afterward, Squalicum’s Ava Simons rifled a shot from 30 yards away that bounced off the post and scored. Lone senior Hannah Bates scored the fifth goal in the 34th minute on a breakaway opportunity.
“I hope to be like Hannah because she has to deal with us,” Hoglin said. “It feels really good to have her take us under her wings. She has been super supportive and it has helped a lot.”
Rodriguez flipped the lineup around in the second half, putting Bates in as the goalkeeper, Perez as forward and a few other underclassmen on the field. Perez scored her first goal in the 42nd minute on a cross and second goal on a header in the 62nd minute.
“It felt really good because I haven’t scored in forever,” Perez said. “It allows us to have more fun and be connected.”
Hoglin secured the hat trick when a pair of Mount Baker defenders lost track of the ball and allowed Hoglin to have a breakaway opportunity in the 50th minute.
“The goals today show how great we connect and see each other,” Hoglin said.
Squalicum returns to the field at Sedro-Woolley at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 8 while Mount Baker (0-7-1) hosts Blaine at 4:30 p.m. Oct. 8.
Nick Zeller-Singh is CDN's sports reporter; reach him at nickzellersingh@cascadiadaily.com; 360-922-3090 ext. 104.
