MILWAUKIE – Elizabeth Danna, Ashley Nunn and Stephanie Socotch scored goals Thursday afternoon to lead the La Salle Prep girls’ varsity soccer team to a 3-0 Capital Conference victory over Stayton High School.
With the win, the Falcons improved to 4-0-1 in league play and 4-3-1 overall entering a key conference clash at rival Gladstone High School Monday night.
“The girls did a good job of bouncing back against Stayton,” said La Salle coach Ryan Cereghino, referencing a 3-3 Tuesday tie at Molalla in a game the Falcons led 3-0. “The theme for the Stayton game was to play an 80-minute game, and they did a better job at accomplishing that goal. We made good use of the width of our grass field, and our wings made good, smart runs.”
In a match dominated by La Salle from start to finish, the Falcons jumped out to an early lead when Danna, a senior midfielder, gathered a loose ball in the box and fired into the upper right corner of the goal 8 ½ minutes into the contest. It was Danna’s first goal of the season.
The Falcons extended their lead midway through the second half on Nunn’s first goal of the season. In a great hustle play, Nunn fought through two defenders out top, secured possession and was able to put a shot into the left corner of the net with 18:34 remaining.
La Salle’s final tally came courtesy of a penalty kick by Socotch, who scored a goal for the third consecutive game. Socotch’s PK, a bullet to the right corner of the goal with 11:53 left, was set up when Laura Vandehey was taken down in the box.
The Falcons outshot Stayton 18-1.
Dave Haglund
