Outlaws keep opponents scoreless

Goals against the Outlaws boys soccer team are a rare commodity. The Outlaws blanked the Huskies at Sweet Home on October 24, with a score of 7-0 - their 10th shutout of the season.

Ryan Pollard got Sisters' scoring frenzy started at the 24-minute mark. As Pollard pushed up the field, Keenan O'Hern played a ball right to him and Ryan finished with a very hard shot to the back corner post.

Ten minutes later Justin Harrer put in a goal to give the Outlaws a 2-0 lead. Eli Boettner passed the ball to the feet of Harrer, who easily placed the ball in the corner of the net for the goal.

Gabe Rietmann broke through two defenders and booted in a nice low shot to the bottom left corner in the 38th minute.

At the 42-minute mark (first-half stoppage) Boettner and Jadon Bachtold took the ball up the field with excellent combo play. Boettner passed a beautiful low ball right across the six-yard line and Gabe Rietmann tapped it in to the bottom right corner of the box for the score and Sisters entered the half with a 4-0 lead.

In the first minute of the second half, Colton Mannhalter assisted Bachtold for a goal.

Midway through the half, Pollard played a ball up the middle to Nicky Blumm for a breakaway goal finished to the bottom left of the net.

Sisters scored their final goal with four minutes left on the clock. Bachtold bicycle-kicked a loose ball from the corner right to the opposite left perfectly to Connor Schaab, who pounded it into the right side of the box.

Sisters recorded the shutout and ended league with a perfect record.

"Our defensive line had a great scoring night and put three goals into the net," said Coach Rob Jensen. "Gabe (Rietmann) had another two-goal night and Jadon (Bachtold), Colton (Mannhalter), and Cody (Lane) quietly controlled the middle of the field."

Jensen told The Nugget that the Outlaws accomplished the goals they'd set for the league season and will now focus on winning in the playoffs.

"We wanted to beat Cottage Grove at Cottage Grove, we wanted to hold our opponents scoreless, and we wanted to go undefeated in league," said Jensen. "We did give up one goal in league, but two for three isn't bad. I am happy we had 10 shutouts on the season."

As the Outlaws head into the playoffs, they plan to focus on fine-tuning their game.

"We need to fine-tune our play with regards to defensive containment, moving without the ball, and speed of transition and set pieces," stated Jensen.

"We need to go to our strengths. If we are more athletic we need to take advantage of it, and if we are more skilled we need to use that. Our strategy will shift slightly depending on our opponent. We're happy about our season so far, but we are not just happy being in the playoffs. We want to win."

Jensen stated that defense will be key to the Outlaws' winning at the next level.