Girls soccer routs league foes

The girls soccer team continued to show they are a force to be reckoned with in Sky-Em play as they shut out Junction City 6-0 on Tuesday, September 24, and two days later posted a 6-0 shutout over Cottage Grove.

Junction City lost three of their best players from last year as well as five starting juniors from last year due to injuries, and the loss was more than they could handle.

Sisters got on the scoreboard at the five-minute mark with a goal from Liz Stewart. Anna Ortega dribbled up from defense and made a cross to Liz, who punched it into the goal. Five minutes later, Natalie Ambrose broke down the center of the field and passed the ball to the feet of Haley Carlson who booted the ball into the net.

Kristen Sanders gave Sisters their third goal of the contest in the 22nd minute. Nina Horner took a hard shot which was deflected by the keeper, and Sanders was there to finish.

Stewart scored her second goal of the contest with eight minutes left in the first half. Stewart and Ambrose made a beautiful combination play up the center of the field and Liz drove the ball into the net.

The Outlaws tacked on two more goals in the second half. Ambrose scored seven minutes into the half when she headed the ball into the goal off a Haley Carlson corner kick.

Emily Corrigan finished Sisters' scoring at the 63-minute mark. Carlson beat a player on the outside and crossed the ball to Corrigan who settled the ball in front of the net and made a beautiful shot into the upper right-hand corner.

Five different players scored goals and five different players contributed assists.

"We are dynamic and dangerous all across the field, which is fun to watch," said Coach Audrey Tehan. "Haley (Carlson) has stepped up this season as one of our best play-makers, and she is determined to get to the goal every time she has the ball.

"It was a great game," added Tehan. "Junction City really put a lot of pressure on us. Our defense had some amazing plays and shut down one of the fastest forward in the Sky-Em League. The girls are all familiar with each other and it shows. They know where each other are on the field and how to balance out each other's strengths and weaknesses."

Two days later the Outlaws shut out the Lions.

Liz Stewart got the Outlaws started when she scored off a free kick from 20 yards out seven minutes into the game. Stewart sent a perfect shot into the upper right-hand corner of the net.

Eight minutes later, Natalie Ambrose scored off a shot from outside the 18-yard box with an assist from Emily Corrigan.

Of the shot, Tehan said, "Emily dropped the ball back to Natalie at the perfect pace and spot, and Natalie sent the ball over the keeper's head."

Sisters knocked in four more goals in the shutout.

Ambrose scored off an assist from Haley Carlson and Corrigan was in the right spot to put the ball in the net when a cross from Anna Ortega was deflected off the keeper.

The Outlaws' fifth goal came from Cassandra Arruda. Jenny O' Conner won a ball from the Lions' defense and crossed the ball in front of the goal. Arruda collected the ball, beat a player and made a great bending shot around the keeper for the goal.

Dani Rudinsky volleyed the ball into the back of the net off a Haley Carlson corner kick to wrap up Sisters' scoring.

Sisters had 16 shots on goal and six went in. The Lions had two shots on goal and Hannah Ceciliani made two great saves.

"Hannah is really showing she is a dominant presence in the box," stated Tehan.

Tehan was pleased with several of her players and their performance.

"Liz (Stewart) had an amazing game, dominated the center of the field and showed she is still dangerous on free kicks," said Tehan. "Cassandra (Arruda) and Molly (Boyle) really stepped up and helped dominate the midfield through tough defense and great distribution of the ball down the sidelines, which allowed us to attack."

"Jenny (O'Conner) played her best game, creating several scoring opportunities and winning a lot of ball for us up front," added Tehan.

The Outlaws will play at home against the Sweet Home Huskies on Thursday, October 3. The game is set to begin at 4:30 p.m.