Boys' soccer team heads to state

The Sisters Outlaws boys' soccer team clinched a berth in the 3A/2A state tournament with a 5-2 rout of the Madras White Buffaloes last week.

The Outlaws have two league matches remaining, but, with their record of 6-3-1, the boys are assured of at least a third place finish.

Madras came to Sisters riding high after a recent win over first place Ontario, but the Outlaws played some of their best soccer of the season, notching five goals by early in the second half.

In the first half, Dennis Bermel and Adrian Molkenthin both scored to put the Outlaws up 2-0, but Madras came back with several breakaway opportunities and put two goals in the net.

"We dominated play, but sometimes breakaways can result in a score" said Coach Bob Bowling. "Madras had some good, fast players up front and they got through our fullbacks."

Bermel came through for the Outlaws with a third goal just before halftime on a 25 yard blast from an indirect free kick.

Madras committed a minor foul to set up the "indirect" kick, meaning the ball cannot go directly into the goal, but must first be touched by another player. Molkenthin touched the ball about two feet forward and Bermel hammered the ball home.

The Outlaws continued to dominate in the second half. Bermel made a direct free kick which hit the top cross bar and bounced straight down. The opportunistic Molkenthin was there to knock the ball into the net just before the Madras keeper could pounce on it.

"Adrian is very aggressive at just the right times," Bowling said. "That's just great soccer instinct, to push forward into the goal area. He literally beat the keeper by a split second."

Only a short time later, center midfielder Travis Comfort completed a long throw-in all the way into the goal area and Bermel headed it in to put the Outlaws up 5-2 with 25 minutes to go in the game. The Outlaws held on for the win.

"We are starting to see some of our potential now," said Bowling. "The Madras coach was quoted after the game as saying 'They were everywhere, all the time.' I love that. It means we're playing tough and smart defense The guys had a lot of heart."

The team plays at home Thursday, October 28, at 4 p.m. against Grant Union of John Day, then will travel to Ontario for a Saturday game against the first place team. State playoffs will begin with an away match in the Salem area on Saturday, November 6.