Outlaws remain undefeated in league

The Lady Outlaws soccer team beat the Junction City Tigers 2-0 in a wild game at home on Tuesday, October 11.

Both teams played well and took several shots on goal in the first half, but after 45 minutes of play the score was deadlocked at 0-0 at the half.

In the middle of the second half, Coach Nik Goertzen made a few changes. Forward Natalie Ambrose was moved to center midfield and outside midfielder Haley Carlson was moved to forward.

Keeper Sara Small gave the Outlaws the spark they needed with an amazing save at the 85-minute mark. A ball bounced in the middle of the 18-yard box and went up and over everybody's head, including Smalls. Sara sprinted to the near post and made a leaping, diving fingertip save with a Junction City player on top of her head. Small recorded the save as both players collided inside the goal.

"That save speaks to Sara's complete athletic ability," said Goertzen. "It was just an incredible save."

Small had a little different take on her save.

"I thought the shot was kind of my fault," said Small. "I misjudged the ball and it bounced over my head. All I remember thinking was that I had to get between the Junction City forward and the goal. Somehow, I managed to do it. I was surprised and think I was kind of lucky."

One minute later, with only four minutes left in the game, Sisters knocked in their first goal of the contest. Ambrose made a great pass from the middle to the right side to Jodie Reoch. With a two-touch move, Jodie blasted the ball to the far right post out of the keeper's reach and into the back of the net.

"Their (Tigers) defense had been swarming us the entire game," said Goertzen. "They had a minor breakdown and we took advantage of it. After that, they were totally deflated and we were totally energized," added Goertzen.

Approximately one-and-a-half minutes later, Sisters scored again on a free kick by Michelle Young on a shot that went up and over the keeper's head. Junction City wasn't set and the Outlaws caught them off guard. As the Tigers scrambled to set up, Young hit her mark dead center for the score.

Sisters played on adrenaline the final couple of minutes and sealed the win.

Of the game, Small said, "I thought we came out real slow in the first half and I think JC wanted it more than we did. We picked it up in the second half and started winning 50/50 balls and started connecting on our passes, and the tides turned."

The win improved the Outlaws' record to 6-0 in league and 7-1-1 overall. Sisters is currently ranked third in the state, just behind Henley (No. 1) and Philomath (No. 2). Close behind and still in the hunt are Mazama, Scappoose, and Gladstone. Teams will battle hard as they come down the stretch to close out league play.