Lady Tigers break into win column behind Molitor's hat trick
Freshman Ellie Molitor scored three times, Brooklynne Addink added a fourth and keeper Aiyana Valle helped shut out Toppenish 4-0 on Tuesday for its first win of the season and a 1-0 start in CWAC play.
Updated
EHS freshman Ellie Molitor (2) battles a Toppenish player for the ball during a Tuesday, Sept. 22 match in Ephrata. Molitor scored three goals in the Lady Tigers' 4-0 win. Photos by Casey Devine
EPHRATA — Ephrata girls soccer opened Central Washington Athletic Conference play at home on Tuesday by topping Toppenish 4-0 for the Lady Tigers' first win of the season.
Freshman Ellie Molitor scored three times and sophomore Brooklynne Addink added the fourth goal. Junior keeper Aiyana Valle contributed 14 saves for Ephrata's first shutout of the season.
Jillian Linehan, left, and Ellie Molitor (2) celebrate Molitor's third goal against Toppenish on Tuesday as Brooklynn Sieverkropp (10) joins them. Linehan set up the goal that completed Molitor's hat trick.
Four minutes in, Molitor scored her first goal off a pass to the middle from junior Jillian Linehan on the right side, then found net again in the 23rd minute on an assist from junior Alexis St. Mary to put Ephrata up 2-0 at the half. Her third goal came eight minutes into the second half, again set up by Linehan. Addink knocked hers in with about two minutes remaining to cap the Tigers' four-goal night.
Alexis St. Mary winds up to strike the ball as a Wildcat player closes in. Recently moved up front alongside Ellie Molitor, St. Mary assisted on the Tigers' second goal in the Lady Tigers' 4-0 win.
Head coach Gary Klepec credited a lineup change for boosting the front-line efficiency.
"I think moving Lexi St. Mary up top to work with Ellie Molitor provided different shooting opportunities, which was very good for us," Klepec said.
Ellie Molitor now has five goals on the season, Addink three and Linehan one.
On the defensive end, senior McKinnley Graaff's return from injury has strengthened the back line, Klepec said.
McKinnley Graaff follows through on a kick against Toppenish. Back from injury, Graaff helped anchor the Lady Tigers' defense in a 4-0 shutout.
Another Molitor making an impact is Ellie's sister, sophomore Sophie Molitor, who anchors the midfield defense with senior Brooklynn Sieverkropp.
"(Sophie) is such a hard worker and manages the midfield with Brooke Sieverkropp," Klepec said. "We feel like the team is coming together. We have learned and understand the new formation, and are starting to peak at the right time."
But injuries continue to strain Ephrata's season. Sophomore Skarlett Sanchez broke her arm in the Prosser match on Sept. 17 and missed the Toppenish win, and senior Maddy Kellams is dealing with a knee injury.
"But we're working through it," Klepec said.
Ephrata tied Prosser 1-1 at home in that Sept. 17 match. The Lady Tiger goal came when Addink took a corner kick and Linehan volleyed it in.
With Tuesday's win, Ephrata improved to 1-5-1 and 1-0 in league play. Toppenish fell to 2-4, 0-1 in the CWAC.
The Lady Tigers play at Pullman at 1 p.m. this Saturday.
"I think Pullman will be another tough opponent that will test us," Klepec said.
The Lady Greyhounds are 4-1 and are No. 10 in the WIAA Class 2A RPI state rankings. They have outscored opponents 24-8, their only loss coming early in the season against Moscow, Idaho.
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Lady Tigers break into win column behind Molitor's hat trick
Freshman Ellie Molitor scored three times, Brooklynne Addink added a fourth and keeper Aiyana Valle helped shut out Toppenish 4-0 on Tuesday for its first win of the season and a 1-0 start in CWAC play.
EPHRATA — Ephrata girls soccer opened Central Washington Athletic Conference play at home on Tuesday by topping Toppenish 4-0 for the Lady Tigers' first win of the season.
Freshman Ellie Molitor scored three times and sophomore Brooklynne Addink added the fourth goal. Junior keeper Aiyana Valle contributed 14 saves for Ephrata's first shutout of the season.
Four minutes in, Molitor scored her first goal off a pass to the middle from junior Jillian Linehan on the right side, then found net again in the 23rd minute on an assist from junior Alexis St. Mary to put Ephrata up 2-0 at the half. Her third goal came eight minutes into the second half, again set up by Linehan. Addink knocked hers in with about two minutes remaining to cap the Tigers' four-goal night.
Head coach Gary Klepec credited a lineup change for boosting the front-line efficiency.
"I think moving Lexi St. Mary up top to work with Ellie Molitor provided different shooting opportunities, which was very good for us," Klepec said.
Ellie Molitor now has five goals on the season, Addink three and Linehan one.
On the defensive end, senior McKinnley Graaff's return from injury has strengthened the back line, Klepec said.
Another Molitor making an impact is Ellie's sister, sophomore Sophie Molitor, who anchors the midfield defense with senior Brooklynn Sieverkropp.
"(Sophie) is such a hard worker and manages the midfield with Brooke Sieverkropp," Klepec said. "We feel like the team is coming together. We have learned and understand the new formation, and are starting to peak at the right time."
But injuries continue to strain Ephrata's season. Sophomore Skarlett Sanchez broke her arm in the Prosser match on Sept. 17 and missed the Toppenish win, and senior Maddy Kellams is dealing with a knee injury.
"But we're working through it," Klepec said.
Ephrata tied Prosser 1-1 at home in that Sept. 17 match. The Lady Tiger goal came when Addink took a corner kick and Linehan volleyed it in.
With Tuesday's win, Ephrata improved to 1-5-1 and 1-0 in league play. Toppenish fell to 2-4, 0-1 in the CWAC.
The Lady Tigers play at Pullman at 1 p.m. this Saturday.
"I think Pullman will be another tough opponent that will test us," Klepec said.
The Lady Greyhounds are 4-1 and are No. 10 in the WIAA Class 2A RPI state rankings. They have outscored opponents 24-8, their only loss coming early in the season against Moscow, Idaho.