Boys soccer wins two, loses one

The boys soccer team started the pre-season with two wins, a 7-1 win over Cascade on Thursday, September 10, and then a close 4-3 victory over the Henley Hornets at home two days later. The following week, on Friday, September 18, the Outlaws fell 3-0 to the Central Panthers.

Sisters scored three goals within a six-minute period in the first half of their match-up against Cascade. Tim Hernandez scored the first goal of the contest off a Scott Everson assist. Hernandez then headed the ball to Kevin Marquardt who put it in with a volley goal. The Outlaws' third goal came from Hernandez off a Gonzalez assist and at the half the Outlaws held a 3-0 lead.

Hernandez scored his third goal (a hat trick) on a breakaway goal just minutes into the second half to push the Outlaws to a 4-0 advantage. Cascade came back in the 48th minute and scored on a header to narrow the Outlaws' lead to 4-1.

At the 65-minute mark, Austin Williams capitalized on a defender's mistake and knocked in another goal for Sisters. Two minutes later Dirk VanderVelde attacked up the middle and scored. Marquardt capped Sisters' scoring in minute 79 on a goal shot near the post to secure the 7-1 win.

Coach Rob Jensen said, "The guys came out with intensity and were fired up and ready to play. For our first game out I think they played well. We still have a way to go and have things to work on but they actually played better than I expected."

Two days later the Outlaws hosted Henley and walked away with a 4-3 win.

Gonzalez scored on a fast break to get the Outlaws started. Henley tied the game at the 37-minute mark and at the half, the score was tied 1-1.

Henley scored on a through ball to take a 2-1 lead, but Scott Everson tied the game back up just minutes later. Everson scored from the top of the 18-yard box off a Hernandez assist.

In the 57th minute Henley regained the lead at 3-2 when they scored off a penalty kick.

Dirk Vandervelde scored Sisters' final two goals of the contest. Vandervelde scored on a direct free kick outside the top of the 18-yard box at the 64-minute mark and then nine minutes later on a penalty kick for the win.

"This was our best game so far," said Jensen. "Scott (Everson) and Dirk (Vandervelde) really stepped it up, played well and showed great leadership on the field."

The Outlaws winning streak came to halt when they lost 3-0 to Central on Friday, September 18.

Jensen told The Nugget that Central is a good team and play a very feisty and scrappy game.

"They outplayed us to some degree but that showed us what we need to work on," said Jensen. "We need to use the whole field offensively, and we need to support each other on defense. We also need to work on movement without the ball."

The Outlaws will face the White Buffaloes of Madras at home on Tuesday, September 22. The following Monday, September 28, Sisters will travel to Pleasant Hill for their first league game of the season. Two days later, September 30, the Outlaws will host Marist.