Boys soccer records two shutouts

The boys soccer team started their week with a bang, tallying a 6-0 shutout over Madras at home on Tuesday, September 11, and two days later blanking Redmond 5-0.

On Saturday, the Outlaws lost 4-1 in a tough battle against the Hornets at Henley.

In Tuesday's action, the Outlaws got off to a quick start against Madras. In the first minute of play Eli Boettner broke away and crossed the ball low from the left side across the middle to a running Evan Rickards, who put it in for the goal. Eleven minutes later, Jake McAllister, at midfield, shipped the ball over the defense to Boettner for a breakaway goal that smashed into the left side of the net and put the Outlaws up 2-0.

At the 17-minute mark, Justin Harrer assisted Rickards off a goal kick that cleared the defense. The Outlaws entered the half with a 3-0 lead.

Just two minutes into the second half, the Outlaws scored again and took a 4-0 advantage. Rickards crossed the ball over to the far post to Gabe Rietmann, who knocked it into the goal. At the 53-minute mark Rietmann broke away from the defense and struck a hard shot off the far post to score.

Sisters' final goal of the game came with nine minutes left on the clock, when Connor Schaab crossed a ball to Colton Mannhalter for a header. The Outlaws ran down the clock and recorded the win.

Coach Rob Jensen singled out the fine performance of Cody Lane.

"Cody absolutely shut down their best player and kept him completely out of the game," said Jensen.

Jensen told The Nugget that the Outlaws showed great poise and concentration against a quality opponent. Sisters' defense is becoming a strong force and has been a catalyst for much of the Outlaws' offense.

Two days later the Outlaws recorded a 5-0 shutout over the Redmond Panthers. Sisters knocked in one goal in the first half, which came at the 10-minute mark off a cross from Rickards to Boettner for the score.

McAllister scored two goals in the second half with a beautiful second goal that came in the 59th minute. Jake sent in a fading left-footed shot from outside the 18-yard box for the goal. Connor Schaab and Evan Rickards each added a goal and the Outlaws walked away with the win. Rickards, O' Hern, McAllister, Rietmann and Lane all recorded assists in the game.

Sisters got off to a slow start but bounced back with a great second-half performance. Jensen told The Nugget that Redmond was a very scrappy team and did a good job defending in the first half.

The Outlaws lost 4-1 in a tough game against the Henley Hornets on Saturday. At the 14-minute mark one of Sisters' defenders was called on a questionable hand ball call for a penalty kick (PK). Drew Corrigan deflected the PK out of bounds for the save.

After awarding Henley a corner kick, the official decided that an encroachment had occurred and allowed the Hornets another PK. Henley scored on the PK and went up 1-0.

Two minutes later there was a direct kick at half that was given in Sisters' direction. As the Outlaws players ran up the field to take the kick the official changed his mind and gave it to the Hornets. Before Sisters had a chance to even get back on defense the Hornets played the ball on the ground to a streaking forward who scored.

With three minutes to go in the half, Henley scored on a mental error from the Outlaws defense and the Hornets went up 3-0.

Sisters battled and played a hard-fought second half. Connor Schaab scored on a volley with an assist from Boettner for Sisters' lone goal in the contest.

Jensen expressed his frustration and told The Nugget that the score wasn't a true depiction of the game.

"We out-shot Henley 15-14 in the game and had multiple shots on target with some great saves by our keeper (Drew Corrigan) and a few crossbar deflections," said Jensen. "We also controlled possession for a majority of the game. It was a really frustrating game. Our guys played hard. We were down two starters due to a Keenan O'Hern concussion and a rolled ankle by Gabe Rietmann."

The Outlaws expect Rietmann to return to play on Thursday, September 20, but when O'Hern will be able to return is still undetermined.

Jensen added, "It was a very competitive game and Henley is a great team, but in soccer sometimes the score doesn't represent the game played."

Sisters will kick off league play at home against Elmira on Thursday, September 20.