Boys' soccer team scores heavily in big wins

The Outlaws' soccer team trounced the Huskies at Sweet Home in a 7-0 shutout on Tuesday, October 4, and turned around two days later to cruise with ease to a 7-2 win at home against Elmira.

In Tuesday's game, the Outlaws racked up six goals in the first half to take a commanding 6-0 lead. Sisters jumped out quick with a goal from Sebastain Boehm at the three-minute mark. Boehm broke through the defense and finished with a nicely placed toe that sailed out of the keeper's reach.

Sisters scored again four minutes later, when Jake McAllister received an assist from Tim Hernandez and put one in for the goal. Evan Rickards scored a minute later and the Outlaws went up 3-0.

At the 23-minute mark, keeper Brennan Layne was credited with a goal.

"One of Sweet Home's players kicked the ball into the goal," explained Coach Rob Jensen. "The keeper thought it was a pass and dodged it to avoid a penalty."

Robert Small was also credited with a goal in the 23rd minute of play when he scored off a McAllister assist.

Layne assisted Ryan Long in the 32nd minute for Sisters' sixth goal of the half. Play was quiet until McAllister scored again in the 65th minute for the Outlaws' final goal.

Jensen had praise for sophomore Jake McAllister's fine play.

"Jake played with great energy and is developing as one of the top players in the league," stated Jensen. "He scored two goals and had two assists, accounting for more than half of our teams' total offense. He also defends and pressures the other team into making mistakes."

McAllister told The Nugget that the Outlaws are playing as a cohesive unit.

"Out team chemistry just keeps getting better," said McAllister. "We're able to pass the ball and know where people are going to be. There's no change when the starters come out and the subs come in. It's a good feeling that we can be confident in our subs to do a great job."

On Thursday, the Outlaws clipped the Falcons in a final score of 7-2.

Elmira scored first on a breakaway in the 11th minute, but Jake McAllister countered one minute later and scored off a deflection of a Sebastian Boehm shot.

The Outlaws had a lot of missed opportunities and shots on goal between the 12th and 22nd minute, but then Freddy Gonzales hit the target. Gonzales scored Sisters' second goal off a Tim Hernandez assist and finished to the right side corner net past the keeper to give the Outlaws a 2-1 advantage.

Gabe Reitmann kept the scoring going when he placed a cross from the right side squarely in the upper left corner of the net for an unassisted goal.

Jensen said, "That set off a flurry of activity and amazing shots from outside."

Just minutes later, McAllister put the Outlaws up 4-1 off a 40-yard left-footed shot from the center of the field. Reitmann finished up Sisters' first-half scoring effort on a breakaway, thanks to a Hernandez assist.

In the second half, Elmira cut Sisters lead to 5-2 in the 50th minute. The Outlaws countered on a Hernandez breakaway. Robert Small sent a through-ball up the middle and Tim chipped the ball over the keeper less than a minute after the Falcon goal. Hernandez finished scoring efforts in the 76th minute by scoring on a shot straight up the middle.

"The team moved very well for each other and did a great job of unselfishly looking for teammates and having fun," said Jensen. "The team chemistry on the field has definitely improved over the last few games, and we look better each day."

Jensen also commented on the defensive improvement.

"Our defense is doing a much better job communicating and rotating to be in a position to help each other out," said Jensen. "They are winning 50/50 balls and playing them to offensive players. I see a big improvement as they mature each game."

The Outlaws were to play at Junction City on Tuesday, October 11, and the following Tuesday, October 18, will play at home against the Cottage Grove Lions.