Outlaws outkick Newport in shootout

The boys soccer team defeated Newport 3-2 at home in a play-in game that came down to a nail-biting shootout on Thursday, November 3.

Newport came out strong and with a lot of energy from the start and got momentum going in their favor early when they scored off a corner kick in the 13th minute of play. The Cubs scored again off a cross five minutes later to take a 2-0 lead.

Sisters settled in and gained control of the majority of the possessions and had four shots within a foot of scoring in the last 20 minutes of the first half. At the half Newport held their 2-0 advantage.

The Outlaws scored early in the second half, when Freddy Gonzales ripped a shot from the left side just outside the 18-yard box. Sisters dominated possession and shots in the second half and tied it up 2-2 off a goal from Jake McAllister. McAllister was fouled inside the penalty area and scored on a penalty kick for the goal.

Regulation play ended in a 2-2 tie. Newport was able to hold off the Outlaws' momentum through two overtimes to force a shootout.

Gonazales took the Outlaws' first shot and scored to the left side to put Sisters up 1-0 in the shootout, but Newport answered and tied it up 1-1.

Nicky Blumm's shot deflected straight down off the crossbar for a miss, and Drew Corrigan saved the next shot to keep it even at 1-1.

Evan Rickards took the next shot for the Outlaws and finished to the right side to put Sisters up 2-1. Newport followed with a shot that drilled the crossbar for a miss. Sebastian Boehm hit the mark for Sisters and then Newport booted a shot five feet over the crossbar for a miss.

Sisters won the shootout 3-1 and the game ended in a 3-2 win for the Outlaws.

"It was a super exciting game," said Coach Rob Jensen. "The guys never quit and just kept playing. I have been telling them all year that the first half of a game is important, but champions win in the second half. It's not only how you start, but how you finish. The guys really took this to heart and played solid throughout."

The Outlaws advance to the first round of the state playoffs and will face the Warriors at Philomath; date and time has not yet been determined.