4/21/2026

Tumwater 1, Shelton 0

(Tumwater, WA) Two games separated 5 of the 6 teams heading into the 2nd half of the league schedule with Centralia sitting atop the league with a 4-1 record and Shelton in 5th at 2-3. Tumwater was part of a 3-way tie for 2nd at 3-2 with Aberdeen and WF West.

As the match began, it was dominated by defense but the T-Birds owned the first half time of possession. The Highclimber defense came up big time and again with keeper Jose Morales Sanchez coming up with multiple saves with his best effort in the 15th minute as he laid out and knocked away an on goal shot.

Tumwater’s persistance finally paid off late in the first half when Aiden Aaseby attacked the 18 and got the defense to collapse on him while pushing a quick pass to Jude Rauscher who knocked it in for the first goal of the game to give Tumwater the 1-0 lead in the 33rd minute.

Shelton’s best chance came with no time left on the clock with a free kick about 8 yards on top of the 18. Mando Navarrette for Shelton lined up the kick and fired the shot but T-Bird keeper Grady Harroun smothered it sending the game to halftime with Tumwater up 1-0.

As the 2nd half began, the Highclimbers were more aggressive and launched several attacks. But the T-Bird defense was prepared led by Harroun who had one save in the 1st half but was far busier in the 2nd half. Harroun and the backline kept the clean sheet and all the way to the 74th minute when Shelton’s Santi Matheus Nicholas got on a crossing pass from Jose Lopez Moreno with a header but went wide left.

The T-Birds offense kept up the attack with solid runs from Malachi Vuong and Tony Hernandez with Rauscher and Aaseby pitching in but could not get by the stiff defense of the Highclimbers as the 2nd half was a shutout for both sides.

Tumwater held on for the 1-0 win as Harroun and the T-Bird defense led the effort with a final clean sheet.

Watch the Full Game OnDemand with an NFHS Subscription Here.

Up Next and MVP

Tumwater is now 4-2 in league play and 5-5-2 overall. The T-Birds host Black Hills on Thursday.

Shelton dropped to 2-4 in EVCO 2A play and 2-7-1 for the season. Shelton is home on Friday night when they take on Aberdeen

The Thorbeckes MVP of the game award went Tumwater’s Jude Rauscher for scoring the lone goal and tremendous midfield defense.

Post Game Show and Highlights

Awards West Post Game Show

Shelton’s Jose Morales Sanchez with a Save

Tumwater Scores in the First Half

Tumwater’s Grady Harroun Ends First Half with a Save

elisportsnetwork.com