Girls soccer tallies shut-out over Cottage Grove

Sisters posted a 3-0 shut-out over Cottage Grove at home on Thursday, September 27, and two days earlier suffered a 1-0 loss to the Tigers at Junction City.

The Outlaws came out hard against Cottage Grove in Thursday's game.

Emily Corrigan scored Sisters' first goal in the fifth minute of play. Liz Stewart served a beautiful ball from a free kick at half-field to Natalie Ambrose, who flicked the ball with her head through the Lion's defense to Emily, who ran right onto it. Corrigan had a perfect kick and drove the ball into the right corner of the net for the goal.

At the half Sisters held a 1-0 lead.

Eight minutes into the second half, Natalie Ambrose booted a shot into the right side of the goal off an assist from Corrigan. Ambrose came back and scored again at the 56-minute mark. Natalie dribbled past three defenders, faked-out the goalkeeper and slid the ball perfectly into the open net for Sisters' third and final goal of the contest.

"The team played extremely well," said Coach Audrey Tehan. "Every game we get better and better."

Tehan noted Haley Carlson and Danielle Rudinski, both strong players in the Outlaws' attack, and also offensive captain Ambrose.

"Haley and Danielle can both serve great balls in front of the goal as well as getting in to take shots," said Tehan. "Natalie is involved in almost every play on offense and defense and is amazing to watch."

Tehan told The Nugget she is proud of her team and how far they've come since the start of the season.

"I am extremely proud of how far the team has come technically and tactically," said Tehan. "We have an extremely smart group of young women and it is exciting to see them apply things we talk about on the sidelines and at practice into the game. They are determined to improve and that is exactly what we've been doing day after day."

Two days earlier the Lady Outlaws lost 1-0 in a heartbreaker at Junction City (JC). The Tigers' tough squad includes two top-notch players, keeper Elise Nord and forward Shaylee Miner, who have already been recruited by the University of Oregon.

At the half the score was deadlocked at 0-0.

Natalie Ambrose had to come out of the game late in the first half but Anna Ortega, who is able to play any position on the field, stepped in and did a great job.

"Whenever I need a key position filled, Anna can step in and quickly adapt," said Tehan. "She is very aggressive in the midfield which allows us to win many 50/50 balls and keep possession."

Sisters came out strong in the second half and the game went back and forth between the two teams.

At the 60-minute mark the Outlaws lost another key player, Molly Boyle, who had to come off the field due to an injury. Freshman Nina Horner stepped in to fill Boyle's shoes at midfield. Horner made some amazing passes into the Outlaws offensive half and took the ball from several very skilled JC players.

"I think my jaw dropped multiple times at the high level Nina was playing at," stated Tehan. "I had to throw her into the middle of one of our toughest games of the season and she stepped up technically and tactically unlike any player I have seen before."

The Tigers scored their goal at the 60-minute mark on a beautiful lofted shot from outside the 18-yard box.

Sisters dominated play the final 10 minutes of the contest and had six great scoring opportunities but just couldn't get the ball in the goal. The final whistle blew and JC recorded the win.

"The girls did an amazing job and came off the field limping and exhausted," said Tehan. "I couldn't have asked anything more from them. The girls gave it their all. We will play JC again and hopefully the next time it will be different on our home field."

Michaela Miller completely shut down Shaylee Miner, the Outlaws' biggest challenge as they entered the game.

"Michaela (freshman) did an amazing job and eliminated any threat Miner had to the Outlaws," said Tehan. "I decided to man-mark Shaylee throughout the game since she's scored over three quarters of the Tiger's goals so far this season. Man-marking is extremely physically and mentally demanding. It's exhausting and Michaela played perfectly the entire game. She anticipated any balls which would come to Miner and beat her to the ball. Miner has great footwork and when she was able to get the ball Michaela was able to contain her and didn't allow her to penetrate into our 18-yard box with the ball."

Tehan also noted the play of Taylor Schneider and Claire Henson. Schneider had two beautiful diving saves for the Outlaws and Henson shut down Jamilla Gambee, one of the fastest forwards in the Sky-Em league.

The Lady Outlaws will play at Sweet Home on Thursday, October 4, and the following Tuesday play at home against Elmira.