Even without anything tangible to play for, Elma made an emphatic soccer statement on Oct. 24.

Kassedy Olson and Brooke Sutherby scored two goals apiece as the Eagles thumped Hoquiam, 5-0, in an Evergreen 1A League contest at Olympic Stadium.

The margin of victory was somewhat surprising, considering that the Eagles had prevailed by only a 2-1 count earlier this month at Davis Field.

In addition, Tuesday’s contest had far more postseason ramifications for the Grizzlies (2-5, 4-10-1), who trail Tenino by one game in the race for the league’s third and final district playoff berth. They visit the Beavers on Thursday and need at least a two-goal victory to advance.

The Eagles (5-2, 9-4-2) are meanwhile locked into the league’s second district slot.

Improvement, according to Elma coach Scott Rockey, was sufficient motivation on Tuesday.

“We’re playing to learn,” Rockey said. “The girls had solid practices last week. We’re working on getting faster — we are getting faster. And our passing is sharper.”

Hoquiam coach Drew Grannemann was at something of a loss to explain his team’s performance. The Grizzlies had difficulty clearing the ball out of their own end and didn’t muster their first on-target shot until the 31st minute.

“Our energy level wasn’t where we needed it to be,” Grannemann conceded. “Something was off.”

Outshooting the Grizzlies 23-10, the Eagles established the tone with two goals within a one-minute span in the first half.

Taking a pass from midfielder Molly Johnston, Olson launched a sharply angled shot from the right side in the ninth minute that glanced off goalkeeper Alyssa Perry’s hands and into the net.

One minute later, a Hoquiam clearing pass was intercepted by Sutherby. The Elma junior drilled in an open shot from about 10 yards out.

The Grizzlies controlled time of possession in the final 15 minutes of the first half, but still had difficulty cracking Elma’s defense.

Hoquiam’s Taylor Strom was awarded a free kick from just outside the penalty area in the final two minutes of the half, but her shot was gathered in by Elma goalkeeper Holli Ray.

Then, with only seconds remaining in the half, Perry smothered a breakaway attempt by Elma’s Jayla Mason. But Olson secured the loose ball and with Perry away from the goal, deflected a shot off the foot of a defender and into the net to make it 3-0.

Elma freshman Taylor Kershaw, elevated from the junior varsity, converted a Sutherby corner kick in the 65th minute. After taking a Johnston pass, Sutherby added the final goal with about nine minutes remaining.

Rockey cited the midfield play of Johnston, Kayli Johnson and Emily Newberry.

Granneman praised the effort of defender Kayla Delahanty, Hoquiam’s lone senior.