Up until 2023, The Dalles' girls soccer team had never won a league title.
Due to an influx of dedicated year-round players, that all changed the last two seasons as the Riverhawks won back-to-back Tri-Valley Conference titles and advanced to the state quarterfinals both years, a first for the program.
This season, The Dalles is poised for a major breakthrough.
Returning all but one starter from last season, the Riverhawks have been dominant so far, outscoring their foes 62-2 in winning their first 10 matches. They have their eyes fixed on another league title and a deep run in the state playoffs.
“When we started this right after COVID, we were looking at building for the future and taking the next step,” coach Colby Tonn said. “We've been there, we've done that, and now it's, 'Can we take that next step?'”
The Dalles won behind its defense last year, allowing 10 goals in finishing with a 12-2-2 record. The Riverhawks' back line continues to be airtight this season, but their offense has made a leap from 2024, when they scored 51 goals.
“The last two years, we've really been solidifying team defense,” Tonn said. “The girls had the technical skills and the ability to play off each other, but now we've really worked on patterns of play. Rather than just checking for a teammate, we're more on the same page of where we're supposed to be. That speeds up the attack.”
The Riverhawks, No. 2 in the OSAAtoday 4A coaches poll behind Marist Catholic, have won half of their matches by mercy rule. Their closest matches are a 2-0 victory at No. 6 Klamath Union on Sept. 9 and a 2-1 home win over No. 9 La Grande on Sept. 17.
Junior forward Ariana Gonzalez is leading the way with 23 goals and 15 assists. Sophomore midfielder Willow Ziegenhagen (12 goals, nine assists), junior forward Alondra Romero (seven goals), senior midfielder Natalie Elias (nine assists), junior midfielder Lilyana Gonzalez (nine assists) and freshman forward Clara Gardipee (seven assists) also have thrived in the unselfish attack.
“They love passing and hitting each other on splits,” said Tonn, who is six years into his second stint as the team's coach.
Ariana Gonzalez and Ziegenhagen are opportunistic near the goal.
“They have a calmness around the box,” Tonn said. “They have a desire to get the ball first and find a way to put it in the back of the net.”
Elias, a fourth-year starter, was the Tri-Valley player of the year and a 4A first-team pick last season. Ariana Gonzalez and Lilyana Gonzalez joined her on the Tri-Valley first team.
Loaded with experience, the Riverhawks had high expectations this season. The Dalles not only brought back nearly its entire team from last year, but it added Romero, who suffered a torn ACL in the first game last season.
“We were thinking this could be a good year if we could all stay healthy,” Tonn said.
The starting goalkeeper, junior Olivia Prado, has been out since suffering a knee injury in the second game. The team is hopeful that she will return for the postseason.
In her absence, sophomore defender Bryce Newby and junior defender Kaiya Doty have split time in goal. The defense, which also features junior left back Yaritza Torres-Escobedo, hasn't skipped a beat.
“That's another thing that makes the defense so impressive, that we're pulling one of our backs to play goalkeeper,” Tonn said. “Our mentality is that it's never OK to allow a goal, no matter what the score is.”
The Dalles dropped from 5A to 4A in 2022. That move, combined with players getting involved in Westside Metros and United PDX satellite club programs, has helped elevate the Riverhawks.
“Now we're not the smallest fish in the pond, and we do have more access to soccer,” Tonn said. “The Dalles has always been a big soccer community, but a lot of it had just been local rec. Now there's been an expansion on the boys and girls side.”
Fennah tops wins list; Wormdahl to No. 3
Jesuit coach Steve Fennah has taken over the top spot on the state's career wins list.
Fennah has coached the 6A No. 1 Crusaders to an 11-0-1 record this year, hiking his career mark to 327-19-22 in 21 seasons with the team. He has supplanted Brian Gant, who went 324-35-17 in 21 seasons at Catlin Gabel (1984-2004).
Fennah started the Jesuit program in 1993 and coached the team for five seasons before leaving for Oregon State, where he was the head coach for 10 seasons (1998-2007). He became Jesuit's coach again in 2010.
Fennah has guided the Crusaders to 10 state titles, including last season. He was named the United Soccer Coaches national coach of the year for 2018.
North Eugene coach Brandy Wormdahl has moved up to No. 3 on the list. With a 10-0 record this year, Wormdahl is 287-129-43 in 30 seasons at North Eugene. She passed Paul Goodwin, who went 283-61-39 in 26 seasons at South Salem (1987-2012).
Highlights from around the state:
No. 6 Sheldon defeated No. 7 South Eugene 2-1 at home Monday in the Emerald Derby rivalry game to stay in first place in the 6A Southwest Conference. The Irish are 7-1-1 in the SWC and the Axe are 6-2-2. Sheldon led 2-0 at half on a penalty kick by Annika Leighton and a goal by Kendall Quinney. South Eugene scored on a free kick by Presley Johnston in the 65th minute. … No. 3 Lincoln is alone in first place in the 6A Portland Interscholastic League after going on the road to defeat No. 5 Grant 2-1 on Monday. Frances Reuland and Chloe Horton scored in the first half for the Cardinals, who are 3-0 in league, ahead of Grant (3-1). …
No. 9 David Douglas defeated host Clackamas 2-1 on Monday to improve to 3-0 in the 6A Mt. Hood Conference. Ja'Lan Abdullah scored the first goal for the Scots and Ariya Abdullah got the game-winner. … Mountainside ended No. 2 Beaverton's nine-game winning streak by tying the Beavers 2-2 at home in a 6A Metro League match Oct. 9. The Mavericks trailed 2-0 at half but pulled even on goals by sophomore Hailey Monson in the 49th and 51st minutes. … Henley topped Klamath Union 1-0 in a battle for first place in the 4A Skyline Conference on Oct. 8. Allie Janney scored off a cross by Paityn Modin in the 32nd minute for the visiting Hornets. …
In the 4A Oregon West Conference, No. 5 Philomath turned back No. 9 North Marion 3-2 on Oct. 7. Kya Bolton had two goals and an assist to lead the host Warriors. … Catlin Gabel senior Addi Dauler has become the school's all-time leader in goals. She has scored 18 goals this season and 109 for her career, surpassing Lisa Ochner (1980-83), who had 104. Dauler is tied for 12th on the state's all-time list. … Amity senior Eliza Nisly increased her career goal total to 99 when she struck twice in a 5-1 win at Salem Academy on Oct. 9. Nisly and Emma Northrup each scored to lead a 2-0 win at Blanchet Catholic on Oct. 7. No. 4 Amity is 6-0 in 3A/2A/1A Special District 2, ahead of Blanchet Catholic (5-1-1) and Salem Academy (4-1-1). …
Valley Catholic has lived up to its No. 1 ranking in the OSAAtoday 3A/2A/1A coaches poll with by defeating No. 6 Banks 3-1, No. 3 Oregon Episcopal 2-1 and No. 5 Catlin Gabel 1-0 in its last three matches to take over first place in Special District 1. Calista Everson recorded a hat trick against Banks. Riona Hiratsuka and Madi Groshong found the net to beat OES. Haven Zaw-Tun produced the only goal in the win over Catlin Gabel. The Valiants (9-2) have won four in a row since a 2-0 loss to Amity. …
No. 10 Umatilla and Riverside played to a 2-2 draw Oct. 10 in a match between teams unbeaten in 3A/2A/1A Special District 5. Visiting Umatilla got the tying goal from Ava Montiel with 15 minutes left. … No. 8 St. Mary's took down No. 7 Brookings-Harbor 3-1 at home Oct. 9 in a game between teams that were undefeated in 3A/2A/1A Special District 4. Ainsley Javarone scored twice and Carys Chamberland had a goal for the host Crusaders. … Central Linn, ranked No. 2 in 3A/2A/1A, won at Pleasant Hill 1-0 on Oct. 7, getting a goal from Jayne Neal in the 17th minute. Central Linn is 8-1-1 in Special District 3, tied with No. 9 Creswell.
jerryu@osaa.org
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