Boys soccer captures fourth straight title

The boys soccer team has been a force to be reckoned with all season long. Sisters dominated play against league foes and for the fourth straight year are the Sky-Em league champions.

Sisters posted two more wins this past week. The Outlaws defeated Junction City 3-1 at home on Tuesday, October 15, and on Thursday earned a 2-0 victory on the road against Cottage Grove.

Junction City jumped out quick and scored at the five-minute mark to take a 1-0 lead over the Outlaws. Keenan O'Hern bobbled a long ball when he lost it in the sun, and the Tiger striker was able to recover the ball and shoot it into the net.

It was Sisters' game from that point on. In the 13th minute Colton Mannhalter weaved through the defense and took a nice shot from the top of the 18-yard box that went into the right side of the net and evened the score at 1-1.

Jake McAllister scored a header at the 30-minute mark off an Evan Rickards assist for the go-ahead goal. At the half the Outlaws held a 2-1 lead.

Midway through the second half, Justin Harrer scored a corner header off another Rickards assist and Sisters went on top 3-1.

Junction City battled hard and tried to pack in the defense, but the Outlaws did a great job of adjusting to the changes and adapting to a different type of game.

Coach Rob Jensen said, "Our outside defenders, Ron Kilian and Jardon Weems, both pushed up into the empty space and sent crosses for many opportunities for our offense. We again controlled possession for most of the game."

Two days later, the Outlaws beat Cottage Grove 2-0 on their own turf.

Jake McAllister scored both of Sisters' goals in the first half off assists from Evan Rickards.

Evan sent a corner kick to McAllister for a header that was deflected by the keeper, but Jake headed it right back in for Sisters' first goal 15 minutes into the game. Five minutes before the whistle blew to end the half, Evan found Jake cutting to the right side in the channel. McAllister rounded the corner and blasted a shot past the keeper to the far

post.

The second half was action-packed, and Sisters had a few great opportunities that missed just wide of the goal. The score remained 2-0 to the end.

Cottage Grove had one opportunity that hit the post, deflected out to their attacker who shot it back, but O'Hern deflected the shot. The ball was still on track to score but Weems saved it out of the goal. Cottage Grove had one more shot at it, and this time Justin Harrer headed it way out. The defenders' sheer determination held the Lions scoreless.

Jensen said, "This was one of the best games of the season, and we played with great energy and intensity. This game was physical on both sides, and Cottage Grove did not want to lose on their senior night."

The Outlaws finish up league play at home against the Huskies of Sweet Home on Wednesday, October 23. The following Monday, October 28, the Outlaws will play at home in an optional endowment game against Mt. View.