Kelso's Carson Thomson Terrel battles to keep possession of the ball near midfield in a season-opening tilt at home against Camas, Feb. 22. The Papermakers played spoiler to the Hilanders' home-opener with a 4-0 win.
Kelso sophomore Josie Settle deals some late game cramps and an understandable lack of oxygen playing her first game in a mask during the COVID-19 era. The Hilanders dropped their home-opener to Camas 4-0 on Feb. 22 in Kelso.
Kelso goalie Tara Liebe gets her mittens on a corner kick from Camas in the Highlanders' season opening loss to at home on Monday, Feb. 22.
Never has Kelso's stadium seemed so empty as in the age of COVID-19. Monday night around 60 fans scattered around Highlander Stadium to watch as the Kelso girls soccer team opened their season with a 4-0 loss to Camas.
Hilander fans who couldn't get their name on the list to get inside due to COVID-19 restrictions watch as Kelso girls soccer takes on Camas in their season-opener at home on Monday, Feb. 22. The Papermakers ruined the homecoming with a 4-0 win.
Kelso's Alexis Richards defends a Camas player deep in Hilander territory Monday, Feb. 22, in Kelso. The Hilanders dropped their season-opener 4-0.
Kelso goalie Tara Liebe prepares to put a boot on the ball during a season-opening contest against Camas at home on Feb. 22. The Hilanders lost that game 4-0 but bounced back for a 3-0 win at Battle Ground on Thursday.
Camas played the part of spoiler to the home debut of Kelso girls soccer by notching a 4-0 win in 3A/4A Greater St. Helens League action at Hilander Stadium on Monday, Feb. 22.
The Papermakers dominated possession all night with perfectly timed passes and an offense that looked suspiciously well-oiled in their first game out of the chute. Camas worked the angles and wore Kelso down with back-and-forth passing in order to take a 2-0 lead into the intermission.
A little over three minutes into the second half the Papermakers cleaned up on a ricochet ball deep in the Hilanders’ keeper box to push their lead to three goals. The visitor’s final score came in the final ten minutes of play when the wind had been effectively removed from Kelso’s sails.
Kelso coach Kemal Vejo tabbed sophomore Josie Settle as his team’s player of the game.
“The girls played well but Camas is a strong team and one of the best high school soccer programs in the state,” Vejo said. “I am proud of my girls and the effort they showed. We are focusing on the next game already.”
Kelso is scheduled to play at Battle Ground on Wednesday.
