Boys soccer team takes down Marist to claim league title

The boys' soccer team claimed the league title by defeating Marist 8-2 on Friday, October 27.

Coach Rich Hummell told The Nugget his team came out and played the best soccer he's seen any of his teams play.

Seven minutes into the game Ande Phillips passed off to Ryley Newport who drove the ball into the net from 20 yards out. At the 14-minute mark Newport scored his second goal with a nice assist from Dominique DeLeone, and the Outlaws took a 2-0 lead.

Twenty minutes in, DeLeone passed to Newport, and Newport dished it off to Ande Phillips for the goal. The Outlaws' fourth goal came from Jacob Evan in the 39th minute. Evan scored off a corner kick from Evan Simms. One minute later Ande Phillips scored a sweet header on a corner kick from Simms. At the half the Outlaws held a 5-0 lead.

Hummell said, "My halftime speech was, 'I don't know what to tell you guys; keep doing what you're doing.' And that was it."

Eli Callan crossed the ball to Matt Bryan 20 minutes into the second half for Sisters' sixth goal.

Marist got on the scoreboard with a nice shot at the 23-minute mark and then three minutes later scored off of a penalty kick to narrow Sisters' lead to 6-2.

Charlie Phillips scored a flick on header into the net with a free kick from Evan Simms at the 36-minute mark. The assist was Simms third for the night.

Two minutes later, speedster Jacob Evans took on three defenders and scored an unassisted goal to secure the 8-2 win.

"It was the best soccer yet," said Hummell. "We're ready for the playoffs."

Four days earlier the Outlaws shut out Pleasant Hill (PH) 4-0.

This contest was a 'must win' for Sisters to keep their first place status in the league secure.

Ryley Newport scored Sisters' first goal with the assist coming from Oscar Weigand. Both teams were held scoreless the remainder of the first half.

Seven minutes into the second half, Ande Phillips 'toe poked' in a corner kick from Jordan Wellman. With five minutes left in the contest, Charlie Phillips slotted a ball through to Evan Simms for a left foot finish. Ben Mansker converted on a penalty kick for the 4-0 win.

"The boys played solid," said Hummell. "PH played nine guys up front after we were up, so it made for interesting soccer. Our defense held strong."

The previous week the Outlaws recorded one tie and one win. Sisters tied 1-1 with Cottage Grove (CG) on Monday, October 16 and three days later shut out Elmira 4-0.

The Outlaws were excited to play on a turf field under the lights in Monday's match-up with Cottage Grove. Before the game began the field was drenched in a downpour of rain which resulted in a very wet and slippery field.

Coach Rich Hummell told The Nugget that it took his boys about 20 minutes to adjust to the conditions.

"Cottage Grove scored five minutes into the game off of a penalty kick and then five minutes later off of an own goal when a defender cleared it off of one of our own players into the goal. After we were down two goals, the boys started to settle down and string together some passes," said Hummell.

The Outlaws had several opportunities to score but to no avail. Hummell talked to his team at half time about playing their style of soccer and possessing the ball.

Up to this point CG had only been scored on four times during the season, and the Outlaws knew they had their work cut out for them. Sisters came out on fire in the second half.

"Everyone was going hard to the ball," said Hummell.

Nine minutes into the second half, Eli Callan passed a ball to Ryley Newport who buried it into the back of the net. Thirty seconds later Matt Bryan slotted a beautiful pass to Ande Phillips who took on the keeper one-on-one and finished it strong on the ground.

Sisters had many more opportunities but were unable to finish, and the game ended in a 2-2 tie.

"I was proud of the kids to come back against such a strong offense," said Hummell. "I think we had the respect of CG and the crowd by the time we left the field."

On Thursday, Sisters took on Elmira, the only team to defeat the Outlaws earlier this season.

Sisters had the home advantage, and Hummell told The Nugget his team had been looking forward to the match-up for three weeks.

"We were off the last time we played them so we had something to prove," said Hummell. "This was a crux game for us. It would determine first in league for the moment."

Both teams played strong the first 20 minutes of the game and went hard to the ball in a very physical match-up.

Eighteen minutes into the game Ande Phillips passed to Ryley Newport for a left footed shot which found the back of the net. One minute later, Ande sent the ball over to Newport who slotted it to Matt Bryan for a left footed score. Sisters held a 2-0 lead at the half.

Nine minutes into the second half, Newport took a free kick from about 20 yards out.

"The wall set up right. Ryley bent it around the right side of the goal, and it kissed the near post and went in," said Hummell. "The only thing the keeper could do was shake Ryley's hand after a shot like that. Later, Ryley told us that it was all the wind."

At the 24-minute mark, Charlie Phillips passed to Bryan.

Hummell said, "It was a left footed dipping shot into the left upper v. The ball stuck the back of the net and popped out because of the spin. It was sweet. The defense stepped up and owned Elmira's strikers, winning every ball in the air."

The Outlaws walked away with the 4-0 shutout.