Young Ravens take flight in win over Trojans | NPSL girls soccer

Built for tomorrow, the Auburn Riverside girls soccer team is making a good impression today.

The Ravens’ latest conquest – a 4-0 shutout last Friday against visiting rival Auburn – flashed the potential of a young club and the leadership of one of its catalysts, sophomore midfielder Olivia Boulet.

Boulet and her strong right foot boomed a pair of long-distance goals and assisted on a third as the Ravens handled the Trojans in a 4A North Puget Sound League Olympic Division match.

“We have a super young team, which can be really used to your advantage because everyone is super excited and has so much energy. That can really take us far,” said Boulet, who has four goals on the season.

The Ravens (1-1-1 division, 3-1-1 overall) bounced back from dropping a 3-2 match at Enumclaw early last week.

Auburn Riverside tied Thomas Jefferson 3-3 on Tuesday behind two goals from freshman Ella Miller and a goal and an assist from freshman Grace Anderson.

The Trojans, meanwhile, are 0-3-0 on the young season after falling 2-0 to Auburn Mountainview on Tuesday.

Coach Paul Lewis likes what he sees from a team that supports five freshmen and five sophomores.

“There’s moments of that inexperience showing, but there’s also that energy that they bring at the same time,” Lewis said. “They’re really talented players, so the growth curve is going to be tremendous. … And they’re good teammates. They support one another.”

Anderson scored off a Boulet feed to open the scoring in the 16th minute. Boulet then parked a bending shot inside the corner of the net off a free kick from 34 yards away in the 22nd minute.

“She’s a real level-headed kid, very smart … definitely the motor of the team,” Lewis said of Boulet. “All of the kids have such respect for her, and she’s very humble.”

Miller and Kayla Rydberg, another freshman, teamed up on the Ravens’ third goal at the 47th minute. Rydberg earned the goal, Miller got the assist.

Boulet capped the scoring with her second goal, a 35-yarder, from Talia Samuelson’s assist, in the 52nd minute.

Bella Reckling and Haley Lindor combined on the shutout.

Lewis said the division race is up for grabs this year, with Todd Beamer, last year’s champion, setting the early pace.

“We got a good shot, but we have a young team,” he said. “But they get the big picture. It’s a long season.”