Lady Outlaws advance to first round of state playoffs

The Lady Outlaws defeated Sutherlin 3-1 at home on Friday, November 2, in a play-in game where all four goals were scored in the first half of the contest. The Outlaws notched their win in front of their biggest crowd of the season. Sisters was to play Molalla on Tuesday, November 6, in Round 1 of the state playoffs.

Natalie Ambrose scored early in the game to give Sisters a 1-0 lead. Ambrose won the ball at midfield, beat all Bulldog defenders and placed the ball in the right lower corner of the net for the score. Natalie scored again at the 24-minute mark after she battled past three Sutherlin defenders down the sidelines and took the ball into the center of the field and booted the ball into the net.

Sutherlin came back off a free kick to the left side of the 18-yard box and scored off a beautiful shot perfectly placed into the upper corner of the net. The keeper had no chance of a stop.

Ten minutes before the whistle sounded to end the first half, Emily Corrigan scored Sisters' final goal of the game. Corrigan received a cross from Liz Stewart and sent the ball into the back of the box.

In the second half Sisters had multiple opportunities to score but just couldn't get one in the goal. The game ended in a 3-1 win for Sisters. In Outlaws tradition, the players linked arms and crossed over the field to bow to their fans at the close of the contest.

Haley Carlson and Liz Stewart commented on their match-up against the Bulldogs and the games ahead.

Carlson said, "Sutherlin did some back passing at midfield more than we are used to and that took us a while to adjust to. Nina (Horner) and Boston (Moore) really stepped up for us today and it was just what we needed. As we go on we need to give 100 percent."

Stewart said, "The games are just going to get tougher from here. We need to pick up our intensity at practice and practice like we're in a game."

Coach Audrey Tehan said, "We had no idea what to expect with Sutherlin stepping into the game. The Outlaws beat them last year in the same round of play-in games but this year we have a completely new group of girls, and teams can change drastically year from year.

"The girls played a great game and really stepped up," added Tehan.

At various times in the last few games, Tehan has switched up positions a bit. Tehan would move Anna Ortega to sweeper and pull Liz Stewart up to the midfield to give Stewart more opportunities to shoot, and also to create plays.

"Anna does a great job as sweeper and can clear the ball with one touch, which is exactly what we need," stated Tehan. "It really throws teams off to switch and put Liz in the center all of a sudden because she is such a dominant player. Liz and Natalie (Ambrose) were able to get multiple scoring opportunities through their combinations of passes and through balls."

Tehan has also moved Boston Moore to center midfield, which allowed Natalie Ambrose to play forward. The move proved to be very successful. Ambrose's speed allowed her to fly past Sutherlin's defense multiple times.

In practice, the day prior to the game, Outlaws keeper Taylor Schneider got a concussion in practice and was not able to play. Freshman Nina Horner stepped in and did a phenomenal job in the box and made some incredible saves.

"Nina was a leader from the back," said Tehan. "She was asked to fill a huge roll in a crucial moment for us, and it just goes to show what a talented and determined person she is."

Earlier in the week, on Monday, October 29, the Lady Outlaws faced Junction City (JC) at Cottage Grove. Sisters and JC were co-league champions with 9-1 records and played to determine who would be the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds for the Sky-Em league heading into the playoffs.

Sisters lost 5-2.

Tehan said, "Cottage Grove's field is turf, and this posed a large challenge to us and JC because the speed of the ball is much quicker and you can't send a lot of through balls past the defense because the ball rolls out of bounds or right to the goalkeeper.

"It was a hard loss for us," added Tehan. "The girls were connecting on passes and moving the ball around JC and up the field and we were having a great game. But Shaylee Miner was just having an amazing game and really showed us why she's going to be playing soccer at a Division 1 school. She used the turf to her advantage as she was able to get a lot of speed and use her high technical skills going one-on-one due to the turf, unlike when we played them previously on the grass."

All of the Tigers' goals came from outside the 20-yard mark. Miner was able to take the smallest amount of space and place the ball right where keeper Taylor Schneider was not.

"There was not a lot I could say after her (Miner's) goals because they were just amazing shots that she took under a lot of pressure, even when she was contained by our defense," said Tehan.

Tehan was impressed with Dani Rudinsky's and Haley Carlson's play at outside midfielder.

"These girls cover the entire field and are always getting back on defense," said Tehan. "They run up and down the field for the entire 80 minutes."

Tehan also noted the fine performance of Taylor Schneider at keeper.

"Taylor has been phenomenal this season and has stepped in and made some amazing saves for us," said Tehan. "She has really stepped up for us and is a crucial player."