Jensen Scores Hat Trick as Monte Rolls by United

Montesano's Jason Franks (#10) controls the ball by a physical Mike White (#22). Monte Head Coach Erik Stanfield said "We knew coming down here that these guys play tough soccer".

Montesano Forward Derek Jensen scored a “hat trick” as the Montesano Bulldogs earned a hard-fought 3-2 1A Evergreen League soccer victory over Toledo/Winlock United on Saturday afternoon in Winlock.

Montesano's Derek Jensen (#4) scored three goals against Toledo-Winlock United. In this case, he is defended by Jesse Holbrook (#15).

The Bulldogs jumped out quickly with a breakaway goal just 90 seconds into the game as Jensen got behind the United defenders. Monte’s second goal came off a free kick when Curtis McConnell put the ball into a soft spot right in front of United Goalie Conor Sathre. Jensen spent little effort slapping the ball into the net and crediting McConnell with the assist.

Max Hernandez scored a breakaway goal just 53 seconds after the break but in the 53rd minute, Jensen scored his 3rd goal.

United Forward Max Hernandez (#9) scored one goal, but seldom was left uncontested for open shots or passes.

Five minutes later, United Forward Enrique Ramirez found the net after a messy sequence of events for the Bulldogs.

United's Enriquie Rameriez (#8) scored the last goal of the game, but here he is defended closely by Aaron Ross (#14) of Montesano.

“There were some shots that could have went either way,” said Montesano Head Coach Erik Stanfield. “We were up 2-nil at half and you have to come out strong. Those teams that want it, want it and they came back.

From that point, United had many opportunities but Monte Goalie Gonzalo Gaona had many of his 10 saves in the waning minutes of the game. In all, United had 22 shots, but most were contested while the Bulldogs accounted for 27 shots and many of those were defended by the embattled goalie Sathre.

United Goal Keeper Conor Sathre guards agressively. Here he stopped Curtis McConnell (#7)well away from the goal and managed to come away with the ball. Mike Ayon (#35) is in the air trying not to land on his galie.

United Coach Hugo Molina said that his team’s weakness was their lack of hustle to the ball on defense. “They need to go after the ball more aggressively,” he said. “They think it is going to go through the man and then come to them”.

“We had a tough game up in Forks two days ago,” continued Stanfield. “It was a tough loss for us. We knew coming down here that these guys play tough soccer every time we play them. They are one of the teams that play a different formation in a 4-3-3 and that puts a lot of pressure on your defense.”

Montesano keeper Gonsalo Gaona had 10 saves against 22 shoots from United.

“We graduated a ton last year, so we are a really new team this year.,“ said the Monte Coach who's team is now 1-1 while United falls to 1-2.

“We have put in a whole new formation that we are still working with so our biggest thing coming into this game was the hustle factor. We were going to take the ball away on every point of attack. That is what we did not do at Forks and we paid the price for it,” described the Bulldog Head Coach.

“If people are going to beat us, it is not going to be because they out hustle us,” continued Stanfield. “That was our goal coming into tonight and I give credit to United. They put a lot of pressure on our defense for a while there. We knew that was coming and we practiced for it. It kind of fell our way.

Monte will host La Center on Tuesday while United will have Stevenson at home on Tuesday before traveling to Forks on Thursday.