10/22/2026
Rochester 4, Elma 1
(Rochester, WA) This was the final regular season match for both teams and Rochester had a chance to tie Montesano for 2nd which is big for the district tournament because 2nd place gets to host an opening round match and 3rd place is on the road.
Elma was locked in as the #4 seed and will travel to the Trico #5 team in a play-in match to get into the double elimination tournament. That match is set for next Tuesday on the 27th.
Warriors strike quickly
Rochester wanted to set the tone early and they did in the 5th minute. Rochester’s Lizzie Hoover got on top of a loose ball and sent it over to Jolene Rodgers who fired from top of the box with a perfect lob shot over the head of the Eagles keeper and into the net for a 1-0 lead.
Hoover and Rodgers would connect again minutes later with another deep pass from Hoover but Rodgers would pull it to the right and it remained a 1-0 Rochester lead. Both teams then exchanged multiple possessions but neither one could get back on the board. They went to halftime with Rochester leading 1-0.
Hoover takes over
As the second half got underway Rochester continued to move the ball up and down the field. Elma, however, did have a nice run and thought they got on the
scoreboard but the official ruled that the keeper had possession and the ball went back over to Rochester, still leading 1-0.
Shortly after that Lizzie Hoover would take a pass and then lob in a long shot from the 25-yard line, in over the head of the keeper and into the back of the net in the 50th minute. Rochester got the insurance goal to go up 2-0. Hoover would strike again 5 minutes later: another nice little lob shot over the top of the keeper, this time inside the box, into the upper left, for the third goal of the match for Rochester. They went up 3-0 and it was a brace for Lizzie Hoover.
The final Rochester goal came in the 61st minute.A long shot from Rochester was knocked down by Elma goalie Emmalin Gonzales. The Warriors Gianna Zimmerman was right there to tap in the game’s 4th goal.
Elma got on the board late with a long run down the wing by Chelsea Plata. Plata had been close all night on getting a goal and finally broke through in the 71st minute. Elma’s keeper Emmalin Gonzales ended the match with 7 saves for the Eagles. The Warriors got 6 saves from their goalkeeper Zoe Ferrer in the match.
Chehalis Holiday Inn Express MVP of the Game
Lizzie Hoover was named MVP of the match with her 2 goals and 2 assists. Zoe Ferrer and Jolene Rodgers were also in the running for the Warriors.
What’s Next?
The District 4 1A tournament is up next. Elma heads to Columbia (White Salmon) in a loser out play-in game. The winner of that match will take on the Trico #1 seed Seton Catholic on 10/29.
Rochester finished 3rd in the EVCO 1a and advances to the double elimination portion of the District 4 1A tournament. The Warriors travel to the Trico #2 Kalama on 10/29 for a 6pm match.
Link to watch full game replay on the NFHS Network (subscription required)
West 42 Sports Postgame Show
Rochester Strikes First
A Brace for Rochester’s Lizzie Hoover
Elma Gets on the Board Late
www.West42Sports.com