BAKER GIRLS SOCCER: Bulldogs take opener loss 7-1 vs Fruitland

Published 10:30 am Wednesday, August 30, 2023

The grasshoppers crawling through the grass weren’t an airborne nuisance as the Baker girls soccer team opened its season Tuesday, Aug. 29 at the Sports Complex, but the Fruitland Grizzlies certainly were.

The visitors from Idaho took a 3-1 lead at halftime and then scored four more goals in the second half to win 7-1.

Baker’s defense was stout early, keeping the match scoreless through the first 20 minutes.

The Grizzlies then scored two straight goals before Baker junior Winter Smith got a rebound past Fruitland’s scrambling goalie to cut the lead in half.

“Winter did an awesome job and followed a shot that the goalie just didn’t get her hands on and almost got a second one,” Baker coach Robbie Langrell said. “It’s so encouraging seeing somebody just rushing the goal and being that aggressive.”

Langrell was pleased with Baker’s defense early. The Bulldogs struggled last season early in matches, often giving up a goal in the first minute.

Even after Fruitland took a 3-1 at halftime Tuesday, Baker continued to play well, she said.

“We kept it 1 to 3 for a huge portion of the game,” Langrell said. “The second half of the game it was pretty much 50/50 their side, then our side of the field, so we did a good job commanding the ball.

“We have a really young team, only three of them can drive right now, so I’ve got these girls for three years to build with them,” Langrell said. “They did fantastic just keeping their head in the game, nobody got down. Once your head gets down you lose the whole game.”

Baker has a busy weekend ahead at the Sports Complex.

The Bulldogs are scheduled to play host to Mazama on Friday, Sept. 1 at 5 p.m., and Henley on Saturday, Sept. 2 at 1 p.m.

“These girls are being positive, being nice to their teammates, being constructive, starting to talk, that’s something they’re learning now,” Langrell said.