New soccer teams start in Sisters

Two new soccer teams were recently formed that will fill a gap that has existed over the last several years for play at the seventh- and eighth-grade levels.

Support from the Sisters Soccer Club, the high school varsity and junior varsity coaches and the Sisters School District made this endeavor possible.

Rob Corrigan is the new coach for the middle school girls soccer team and Scott McAllister is heading up a parallel team on the boys side.

"The goal is to provide a series of evenly competitive games through which middle school players can develop their skills and gel as teammates," said Corrigan.

For many years the Sisters Soccer Club recreational soccer program has run a local recreational league for kids in Sisters that runs through U12 (sixth grade for most students). From there it jumped to junior varsity and varsity at the high school, which left the gap at the middle school level.

Each year, students at the seventh and eighth grade level were left to scramble to find a soccer program they could be involved in. This meant joining a competitive team from Bend or Redmond and included travel out of the area for practices and games.

Some parents got together to form a Sisters team to play in the Bend recreational league, and some kids lost interest and dropped out of the sport altogether.

Over the summer, the two new teams were formed and early in September these new middle school teams participated in a jamboree tournament in Eugene. Players, with support from their families, raised funds for uniforms, equipment for the team and most of the team travel expenses by selling water bottles and baked goods at the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show, Bend Elks games, the Sisters Doggie Dash, and also locally to friends and family.

The boys team won three of their four games and outscored their opponents 18-2. Seven different players scored goals, and Logan Calmettes, Justin Harrer, Casey Lane and Ethan Stengle had a strong defensive showing that produced three shutouts.

"The team stepped up and played at a higher level than I expected for their first games," said McAllister. "That, with the level of sportsmanship and respect they displayed to their opponents, I expect that this season will be successful on many levels."

The girls won three of their six games, tied two and lost only one.

Corrigan said, "I was extremely proud of the way our team came together for these games. It was the first time that most of these girls had played in a serious 11-versus-11 game (U12 typically plays eight girls on a side). They had to communicate, trade off positions, and cover for each other more than in the past. They did a terrific job of this. They only gave up three goals all weekend which was really a credit to our defense."

McAllister noted that providing a local team for kids to play on has opened additional opportunities.

"Playing on a local team allows the kids to participate in additional activities," he said. "We strongly believe that the middle school ages are time when the kids should be trying a variety of activities so they can find their interest and talents. So, we have players who are also participating in cross country, football, drama and jazz band."