Sisters ‘Blaze’ on fire in soccer tourney

The Sisters Blaze traveling soccer team recorded its first top finish of the season July 8-9, in its third summer tourney.

Last weekend was the final tournament to play in before the qualifying tournament, which determines divisional placement for fall soccer.

“I wanted our team to come out strong and play hard before QTs,” said Coach Doug Early.

The Blaze played the Lake Oswego Rangers the first game on Saturday and won 4-0. Goals were scored by Amity Calvin and Jake McAllister and Timmy Hernandez scored two.

The Blaze dominated most of the game, not allowing any goals against them. That would prove critical at the end of the tournament. Both days the Blaze played with only 11 players. There were no substitutions in the mid-90-degree heat.

The next game was on Sunday, July 9; the Blaze played against a talented team from Forest Grove. The Blaze scored early on a shot by Taylor Steele.

“Steele is the type of player that everyone in the league knows about and the opposing teams will double and triple team him allowing for other players to become open,” the coach said. “This allowed for our left side to become unmarked and Hernandez was able to score.”

The Blaze again went with no subs and sometimes played with only 10 players due to injury. The team went up 3-1 at half time. The heat started taking its toll and momentum by the Forest Grove team ended up locking the game in a 4-4 tie.

Hernandez recorded a hat trick (three goals).

“I have always told the players that scoring cannot happen without the entire team effort and that an assist is just as good as a goal, because everyone wants to score, and at this level of play being part of the team is the biggest contribution each player can make,” said Early.

The third and final game of the tournament was against the Hillsboro Raptors. The Blaze needed a win and for the defense to play a tough, low-scoring match. The Raptors scored first and took the lead at half 1-0.

“The players were getting tired and playing at 2 p.m. in the hot sun with no subs was hard for the players,” Early said.

Devon Calvin received an elbow to the nose and Jake McAllister, playing goal, received a kick to the jaw, both requiring time off the field.

The Blaze controlled the ball offensively but could not get it into the back of the net.

“Our players were lifting shots over the goal, by reaching for the ball, which is a result of being tired,” Early said.

After halftime, the Blaze connected on a crossing goal by Steele into the left side corner of the net. The Blaze kept the offensive pressure up and the defense kept the ball on the offensive half of the field. Steele drove into the penalty area and was blatantly fouled by a Raptor player. He scored on the penalty kick.

Another goal was scored by Jake McAllister but it was called back because the referee decided that the goalie had possession of the ball. The game ended in a 2-1 Blaze win.

The combination of wins and the best goals-against record led to a tournament first place.

The Blaze defense is anchored by Brett Pray, Brennan Layne, Freddy Gonzalez and Cody Lane. Keenan O’Hern trades with Lane in the goal. Sebastian Boehm, Timmy Hernandez, Taylor Steele and Jake McAllister all add up to a hard-to-stop offense.

In order for the forwards to get the ball they must rely on a midfield made up of Marisa Haynes, Zoe McAllister, Mason Calmettes, Devon Calvin and Amity Calvin.

The remaining multi-positional players that fit into the team are Evan Rickards, Ryan Long and Jared Early.