Girls soccer takes third in league

The girls soccer team earned their sixth shutout of the season with an 8-0 win over Creswell on Monday, October 20, and two days later wrapped up league play with a 2-0 loss at Cottage Grove (CG). The outcome was a third-place league finish for the Lady Outlaws.

In Monday's victory over CG, Kelly Cole led the offense with a hat trick. Cole got the Outlaws on the scoreboard early with a goal four minutes into the game. Cole scored unassisted with a shot from the right side that landed to the left of the keeper, who didn't have a chance on defense.

Four minutes later Michelle Young scored an unassisted goal on a breakaway. The goalie came out of the box and Young booted it into the open net.

Hattie Tehan pushed Sisters to a 3-0 lead at the 14-minute mark. Creswell was attempting to clear the ball but Tehan claimed possession and took a shot that hit the far post and went in for the score.

Three minutes later Cole took a pass from Tehan, went one-on-one with the keeper and finished it on the ground to the left of the goalie.

The Lady Outlaws scored twice more in the half. Allen scored on a breakaway and Young went one-on-one with the keeper for a goal.

Coach Nik Goertzen told The Nugget that Creswell's keeper took lots of risks and the Outlaws capitalized in several situations.

At the half Sisters held a 6-0 advantage and Goertzen made some adjustments.

"I wanted the kids to do some things schematically that would make it more difficult for us and challenge us in a different way. I told them to try and score a couple more times but it had to be off a header or an eight touch goal," said Goertzen.

Cole scored her hat trick at the 54-minute mark in the second half, off a pass from McKenzie Cooper and the Outlaws went up 7-0.

Seven minutes later Allen capped Sisters' scoring off a great pass from Cassie Hernandez.

"We were in transition and had moved Marin (Allen) to the midfield. She had the opportunity to strike and sent the ball over the keeper's head," said Goertzen.

Goertzen switched his offensive players to defense and his defensive players to offense for the remaining 20 minutes of the game and had the team stop all attempts to score.

"The win was an overall team effort but Kelly (Cole) really stepped it up," said Goertzen. "She took advantage of her speed and foot dynamics and her ability to cross the ball."

Commenting on her hat trick, Cole said, "It was very exciting and it pumped me up a lot. It gave me confidence to know I can score even though I'm a midfielder."

Two days later Sisters suffered a loss to Cottage Grove. The Lions scored their first goal at the 32-minute mark off a free kick on a set play.

"We were lollygagging in our approach to defend the shot and we had a bunch of missed assignments," said Goertzen.

Cottage Grove's second and final goal came with 10 minutes left in the contest. The Lions goal came off a corner kick on another set play.

"We weren't ready," said Goertzen. "We had kids out of position; we weren't ready to defend and again had missed assignments."

Goertzen told The Nugget he felt his team played with good energy and communication but were a step slow.

"We played good soccer but not great soccer," said Goertzen. "But I felt we played as good as we could for not being at full strength. I had to make a choice whether to try for a win and second place or accept the fact that we're already in the playoffs and rest some of my injured players and have them healthy for playoffs. It was a hard decision for me. My head told me one thing and my heart told me another. I had to do what was best for the kids, so I had them rest and not play in the game. My choice paid off because both players (Mindy Marr and Jenna Sneva) are ready to go from a health standpoint."

The Outlaws were to host Junction City at home on Tuesday, October 28. The winner will advance to the first round of the state playoffs.