Boys soccer season comes to an end

The boys soccer team put out a gutsy effort to defeat Junction City 3-1 in overtime at home on Tuesday, October 28. They advanced to the first round of the state playoffs in a match up against LaGrande four days later.

The Outlaws lost 3-1, which brought their season to a close.

It was a well-fought game with tough play all over the field in Tuesday's win over Junction City.

David Liming got the Outlaws on the scoreboard at the 14-minute mark. Will Newport had a great assist to Liming who headed it in for a beautiful finish. Eight minutes later Junction City scored to make the game even at 1-1.

At the half the score was still tied 1-1. Neither team was able to score in the second half and the game went into overtime.

In the first 10-minute overtime the Outlaws scored to take a 2-1 lead. Max Quinn scored on a breakaway thanks to an assist from Will Newport.

In the second 10-minute overtime Junction City was called for a hand ball in their own box. Sam Orwig scored on the penalty kick and the Outlaws went up 3-1 to seal the win.

"The guys stuck with it through adversity," said Coach Rob Jensen. "We had three goals called back and the opportunity to put the game away in regulation play but it just wasn't in the cards. We felt comfortable and confident in overtime and the kids played up to the challenge. It was one of our better games of the season and it was great to see the guys put 100 minutes together. David Liming, Will Newport and Scotty Everson all played at the top of their game and controlled the ball."

On Saturday, the Outlaws lost 3-1 to LaGrande in the first round of the state playoffs.

LaGrande scored 15 minutes into the game off a volley from 25 yards out. Seven minutes later they scored again to push to a 2-0 advantage over the Outlaws. LaGrande had an unmarked man in the middle and made an easy shot from 15 yards outside the box for the goal.

Sisters narrowed the score to 2-1 in the 35th minute on a through ball from Dirk Vandervelde to Max Quinn who scored on a breakaway. At the half Sisters trailed 2-1.

LaGrande scored their final goal on a corner kick with seven minutes left in the game. Time ran out on the clock and Sisters lost the contest 3-1.

"The seniors really played their hearts out," said Jensen. "I'll miss the leadership and effort of David (Liming), Max (Quinn), Will (Newport), Sam (Orwig), Pat (Young) and Kody (Johns)."

Jensen told The Nugget that the Outlaws had a season full of ups and downs.

"We had glimpses of brilliance and then we had moments where we wished we could go back and redo," he said. "But the boys should be proud that they made it to the state playoffs again. We have to take with us the good stuff that happened during the season, like how hard we worked and how much we improved, and the great tie with Cottage Grove, who was the No. 1 team in our league at the time we played them."