Lady Outlaws record soccer win at JC

The girls soccer team kicked off league play with a 2-1 victory at Junction City on Thursday, September 22, in an early 3 p.m. game. As soon as the game was over the Lady Outlaws headed to Portland to watch team USA Women's World Cup play team Canada.

Sisters jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead off a goal from Natalie Ambrose. Ambrose took a pass from Jodie Reoch and from 14 yards out kicked a bullet shot knee-high to the right of the keeper.

Just before the half, the Outlaws lost sweeper Michelle Young to a back injury. Ambrose was moved from forward and took over as sweeper, which took a little punch out of the Outlaws' offense.

Coach Nik Goertzen stated that Haley Carlson, Harley Bowler and Mary Jane Murphy stepped up and provided great energy in the offensive effort.

The Outlaws outshot the Tigers 12-2 in the first half, and had two clear shots at the goal but couldn't capitalize on the opportunities. At the close of the first half, Sisters was up 1-0.

Coach Goertzen said, "At the half we made some adjustments to their four back defensive system and we needed to take the next step."

The adjustments worked, and 12 minutes into the second half Sisters scored their second goal. Mary Jane Murphy knocked the ball free in the middle of the field and passed the ball up to Reoch. Jodie ran up on the ball and finished it to put the Outlaws up 2-0.

Goertzen told The Nugget the team relaxed too much, which resulted in the Tigers scoring a goal on a free kick to narrow the Outlaws lead to 2-1.

Sisters buckled down and in the last 20 minutes outshot the Tigers 12-3. The Outlaws had two more clear opportunities to score but just couldn't finish the goal.

"It was unbelievable," stated Goertzen. "Nine out of 10 times we would have had the goal. The score really wasn't indicative of how the game was being played."

As soon as the game ended, the team headed to Portland. The Outlaws headed into Jeldwen Field with faces painted red, white and blue and banners and signs in tow. Goertzen told The Nugget it was the best three-hour soccer experience of their lives.

To top it off, goalie Sarah Small was called down to the field in a raffle at halftime. Small was one of three chosen to participate in the halftime activity, which involved answering questions about the USA Women's World Cup team. Small had the most correct answers of the three competitors and was awarded a team USA jersey.

"It was just awesome," said Goertzen. "They put her up on the big jumbo screen and it was just great. To make it even better, all the kids made the front page of The Oregonian and were even on ESPN Thursday night."

The Outlaws were to host Cottage Grove on Tuesday, September 27, and on Thursday will travel to Laâ¯Pine for a game against the Lady Hawks. Both games are set to start at 4:30 p.m. Sisters is currently 1-0 in league and 2-1-1 overall.