Girls soccer splits games

The Lady Outlaws soccer team suffered a heartbreaking 2-1 loss to Marist in the final minutes of their game at Marist on Tuesday, September 22, but bounced back two days later with a 6-0 shutout at home over Elmira.

Sisters scored at the 22-minute mark on a free kick by Mindy Marr to take a 1-0 lead over Marist on Tuesday and entered the half 1-0. Coach Nik Goertzen told The Nugget that although his team led at the half he still felt apprehensive.

"I didn't have a good feel about the girls' attitudes. They weren't as upbeat and excited as I would have imagined they would be since they were one up on Marist," said Goertzen.

In the second half Goertzen made some adjustments and had the team switch to a defensive mode.

With 2:23 left on the clock, midfielder Mindy Marr was taken down from behind and asked to be taken off the field.

"That was the turning point in the game," said Goertzen.

Forty-three seconds later the Spartans scored on a fluke corner kick that came off two ricocheted shots. At that point Marist's fans erupted with excitement and the atmosphere of the game completely changed.

With less than one minute left, Marist scored again to push ahead to a 2-1 advantage.

Marist scored their two goals in one-and-a-half minutes, with both shots striking from the middle, and won the contest 2-1.

"We lost composure and panicked," said Goertzen. "We played not to lose, rather than playing to win."

Two days later was a different story, and the Outlaws took down Elmira 6-0.

Sisters jumped out early and scored their first goal just 23 seconds into the contest. Jodie Reoch punched it in to the right of the keeper off a Marin Allen assist and the Outlaws went up 1-0.

Three-and-a-half minutes later Rech blasted in her second goal, hard and fast and with such force that the keeper didn't have a chance. Kelly Cole crossed her the ball from the middle for the assist.

Sisters knocked in three more goals over the next six minutes. Allen tapped one in off an Amity Calvin assist, Bowler punched one in at the far post off an Allen assist, and Allen blasted one up and over the defender's and the keeper's head off a Reoch assist to push the Outlaws to a 5-0 lead.

"Marin (Allen)'s shot over the goalie's head was the best shot of the night," said Goertzen. "It was a power shot and went in at full force."

Sisters entered the half with a 5-0 lead. Goertzen made some adjustments at the half, including a different lineup.

Reoch scored her third goal of the night for a hat trick, thanks to a great assist from Allen at the 72 mark. Sisters went up 6-0 and held on for the shutout.

"We needed to win," said Goertzen. "The kids were upbeat and know that next week we need to step it up and get the job done against Junction City."

The Outlaws are 2-1 in league and 4-1 overall. Sisters were to travel to Junction City on Tuesday, September 29, and host Creswell on Thursday, October 1.