Lady Outlaws drop season opener

The girls soccer team made a comeback in the second half of their game against Molalla on Thursday, September 6, but it wasn't enough to overcome the 4-0 deficit they'd accrued in the first half of the contest. The Lady Outlaws finished the game with a 6-3 loss.

Molalla scored three goals in the first 45 minutes of play and at the half held a 3-0 lead over Sisters. The Lady Indians scored again in the first five minutes of the second half to go up 4-0.

From that point on the Outlaws made a strong comeback and were in possession of the ball the majority of the time.

Emily Corrigan hit a perfect shot from outside the 18-yard box that lofted over the goalkeeper into the far left corner for Sisters' first goal of the game. The Outlaws picked up their momentum off the goal and went on to win every 50/50 ball.

Michaela Miller scored at the 25-minute mark to narrow the gap to 4-2. Miller played with tenacity and put heavy pressure on Molalla's defense. Michaela had a breakaway off a long ball and took the ball from the midfield through two defenders, and at the six-yard box booted the ball past the keeper into the right side of the net.

Five minutes later the Indians scored and took a 5-2 advantage.

Natalie Ambrose scored with 10 minutes left in the game and brought the Outlaws to within two points of Molalla at 5-3. Ambrose applied so much pressure to the Indian's defense they fumbled the ball. Natalie corralled the ball and just inside the 18-yard box took a shot that landed in the upper left corner for the goal.

"It was an incredible shot," said Coach Audrey Tehan. "The keeper couldn't have done anything to stop it."

Molalla knocked in their final goal with five minutes left on the clock and walked away with the win.

Tehan noted the fine play of several players.

"Natalie (Ambrose) played exceptionally well," said Tehan. "She was one of our key defensive and offensive players. She kept pressing forward even when we were behind. She brought the entire team up and didn't let them get down. Emily (Corrigan) was key in getting our momentum going forward off that first goal and Taylor (Schneider) and Nina (Horner) did a great job in the goal and made a lot of great saves."

Tehan told The Nugget she was pleased with her team's first performance of the season.

"We improved every minute of the game," stated Tehan. "I was really proud of them on their comeback, which is really difficult to do when you're behind. That says a lot about the character of the team."

The Lady Outlaws will play at home against Redmond on Thursday, September 13, at 4 p.m.