The Selah High girls soccer team has a vastly different look this “fall” than the team that reached the Class 2A semifinals in 2019.
With five freshmen and two sophomores in the starting lineup and just two seniors on the entire roster — not to mention a new coach in Josh Koreski — it’s no surprise that the Vikings are still getting used to one another toward the end of this COVID-shortened season.
“For the first six games, we were putting people everywhere on the field to see who would fit our style of play the best,” said Koreski, who has coached the Selah boys for the past three years. “Even with just a few games left, we are still trying to find the right chemistry.”
The Vikings were 4-5 overall after a 3-2 overtime loss to East Valley on March 11. And while the players may have been expecting a few more W’s this season, Koreski said his young team showed it can hold its own with powerhouse programs from Ellensburg and La Salle, and Class 4A programs from Eisenhower and Davis.
“We’re so youthful that we don’t even know what we’re capable of yet,” he said. “We have everything those other teams have, but we need to become more battle-tested.”
Fortunately, Koreski has been able to rely on the experience of senior striker Chloe Andrews, a first-team all-league selection in 2019. The team also has benefited from the senior leadership of Amelia Haller.
Along with the seniors, the Viks have gotten a boost from five other state tournament-experienced players: juniors Alexia Rodriguez-Burdeaux, Ashlyn Morford and Maya Hall; and sophomores Allison Moultray and Brooke Reiber.
A few underclassmen from that roster elected not to play this season, leaving Koreski with more than a few lineup spots to fill, including goalkeeper. With no other experienced keepers on the roster, Sarah Russell has stepped in and done an admirable job in goal.
“We’re just going out there and having some fun this season,” the coach said. “And it’s also my first year, so it’s taken time to learn what our girls can do. But that also has me excited because we have so much to build on.”
Prior to a March 13 rematch against Ellensburg (a 3-2 defeat), Selah had picked up wins over Prosser (twice), Grandview and Sunnyside. The Viks finished the season at 6-6 with home victories over Grandview on March 16 and Prosser on March 20.
Per WIAA safety protocols, there will be no district or state championship events in 2021.
Yakima Valley Sports Network 