Boys soccer continues domination

The boys soccer team posted two more league wins this past week to push their record to a perfect 3-0. Sisters shut out Junction City (JC) on the road 8-0 on Tuesday, September 24, and two days later beat Cottage Grove at home.

Sisters played an outstanding game against the Tigers on Tuesday. A muddy field and constant rain didn't deter them from their mission. Scoring began in the seventh minute when Ronald Killian crossed a ball though the center from the left over to Connor Schaab who made a run for the goal and drove it in.

Jake McAllister scored back-to-back goals at the 26- and 30-minute marks to put the Outlaws on top 3-0. Colton Mannhalter was there for the assists on both scores.

Mannhalter took a hard shot from 18 yards out and megged the keeper (sent the ball between the keeper's legs) for Sisters' next goal.

McAllister closed out the first half scoring on a ball from Jadon Weems. Jake took the ball on the left side and snuck it by the keeper into the far side of the net. Sisters entered the half with a 5-0 lead.

Three minutes into the second half, Evan Rickards beat a defender up the right side and scored from six yards out.

At the 50-minute mark Connor Schaab had a breakaway up the middle from a Keenan O'Hern ball for a goal. Connor broke away again four minutes later off a ball from Justin Harrer and scored Sisters' final goal of the contest.

"Connor's breakaways resulted from smart thinking from the midfield and back line," said Coach Rob Jensen. "Connor basically outran the defense and was able to beat the keeper one-on-one both times.

"The guys had great energy throughout the game and everyone did a great job," added Jensen. "Colton (Mannhalter) once again played tough and made lots of plays from the midfield. The defense did a great job and only allowed three shots on the game. The team's chemistry has improved tremendously since our last game, and we really controlled every aspect of the field."

Two days later the Outlaws shut out Cottage Grove (CG) at home. Sisters was firing on all cylinders and played their best game against their toughest competition yet.

Sisters got two goals early in the game and at the half held a 2-0 lead. Justin Harrer scored the first goal in the ninth minute off a ground cross from Evan Rickards. Four minutes later a ball was deflected on a shot and Harrer beat three other Outlaws to put it into the back of the net.

Coach Jensen said, "It was a pretty fiercely battled half. We kept on and had some really good opportunities that the other keeper saved. Our defense was great and made some impressive stops.

"We made some transitions in the second half and played Justin (Harrer) back at the defensive center midfield position, where he and Gabe (Willitts) put an end to any attack CG might have had up the middle," added Jensen. "Our defense played superb in the second half."

Rickards scored in the 54th minute off a free kick. Evan took the shot from the center left side to the right side of the goal around the defense from 25 yards out. Colton Mannhalter followed with a hard shot outside the 18 to the left side 13 minutes later and the Outlaws went

up 4-0.

Porter Ford posted his first varsity goal at the 67-minute mark off a volley from a beautiful cross by Rickards. Jardon Weems got on the board with a penalty kick.

Ethan Stengel finished the Outlaws' scoring with a shot from outside the 18-yard box on the left side, with an assist from Mannhalter.

"Ethan's shot sailed past the keeper like a rocket to the far-side net," said Jensen. "It couldn't have been placed better.

"It was a great game, and I'm really proud of the guys," stated Jensen. "The team really stepped up and battled like champions in the toughest competition we have faced so far in league."