Outlaws split on soccer pitch

Sisters lost 1-0 at Marist in a hard-fought battle that went into 20 minutes of overtime on Tuesday, October 20. Two days later the Outlaws bounced back and notched a 4-2 victory at home against Elmira.

In Tuesday's game against Marist the score was even at 0-0 at the end of regulation play. At the 17th minute in overtime, Marist got a free kick that set up the winning goal, and the Spartans recorded the win.

Goalie Drew Harrison had a strong performance, and according to Coach Rob Jensen had at least 10 great saves in the contest.

"Drew played smart and aggressive," said Jensen. "He played exactly how he should play."

The Outlaws beat Elmira 4-2 at home.

Kevin Marquardt received a pass at the top of the 18-yard mark, took a couple of dribbles and then crushed a shot over the top of the goalie at the 34-minute mark to give Sisters a 1-0 lead.

Elmira scored two goals back-to-back at the start of the second half and went up 2-1.

Sisters responded, playing with a sense of urgency. The Outlaws moved and passed the ball well, and at the 55-minute mark Scotty Bowen dribbled toward the goal and took a shot from 18 yards out that deflected off a defender and went into the net for a goal and tied the game 2-2.

Fifteen minutes later Freddy Gonzalez made an on-the-ground cross to Tim Hernandez, who took a point-blank shot from right in front of the goal to score, and pushed the Outlaws to a 3-2 advantage.

Sisters' final goal came in the 72nd minute. Gonzalez was tackled in the box, took the PK and scored to secure the 4-2 win.

Coach Rob Jensen noted the fine play of forwards Marquardt, Gonzalez, Hernandez, Bowen, Scott Everson and Austin Williams.

"These guys moved well without the ball and made smart decisions in passes that set up plays that got us the win," said Jensen. "Today it felt like we finally started playing soccer again. It's the right time of the season to start clicking."

In last week's action, the boys soccer team suffered a heartbreaking 3-2 loss in the final minute of the game at Junction City on Tuesday, October 13, but came back two days later, October 15, to shut out Pleasant Hill 2-0.

The Outlaws are currently 3-3-2 in league and 5-5-2 overall.

Jensen told The Nugget that the Outlaws are at fourth place in league, but within striking distance of second or third.

Sisters will wrap up league play with a game at Cottage Grove on Tuesday, October 27, and then host Junction City Thursday, October 29.