Girls soccer shut out by Gladstone

Sisters was shut out 3-0 at Gladstone on September 3. Last year, the Outlaws lost to Gladstone in the second round of the state playoffs and were hoping for a better outcome this time around - but the Gladiators prevailed.

The Outlaws were unaccustomed to the artificial turf, and Gladstone capitalized on that fact. The Gladiators were able to read the bounces of the ball on the turf much better than the Outlaws. The Gladiators also had very strong players in the middle, and were able to get numerous fast breaks.

Gladstone scored two goals in the first half of the contest and tacked on another in the second half for the win.

Sisters players Hannah Ceciliani, Nina Horner, and Lexie Stewart were all stand-out players for the Outlaws.

Ceciliani made two fantastic saves in the goal, and one in particular was a jumble. Gladstone fired a shot at the goal, and Hannah did a great job of deflecting it. When Michaela Miller tried to clear the ball, she tripped over Hannah and sat right down on her face. Olivia Watts was able to clear the ball.

"This is what we call an egg scramble in the box," said Coach Thomas Draxler.

Horner, who didn't start to play soccer until high school, also did an incredible job on the field.

"Nina has grown so much as a soccer player," Draxler. "Now, we trust her to control the entire back line. She's strong in the air, and heads the ball well, she's strong with her feet, and she reads the attack very well."

Stewart covered a lot of ground for the Outlaws at her right midfield position.

"Lexie was constantly up-and-down the sidelines in order to be in the right position where she was needed," said Draxler. "And that's an admirable feat of endurance."

Draxler told The Nugget that his team will need to be more hungry for the ball.

"Oftentimes, on free-kicks, or long-balls, the other team always got to the ball first," said Draxler. "If we can get to the ball first it will swing the game in our favor."

Sisters will play at home against Molalla on Thursday, September 10.