Girls soccer posts two more wins

The Lady Outlaws posted two more wins last week. Sisters topped Elmira 2-1 at home on Tuesday, October 13, and two days later the Outlaws bested the Tigers at Junction City (JC) in a final score of 2-1.

In Tuesday's action, Taylor Schneider got the Outlaws on the scoreboard in the 14th minute of play. Schneider toe-poked the ball across Elmira's goal face, and an Elmira defender accidentally bumped it in the goal off her own knee.

Twelve minutes later, Hannah Ceciliani sent in a long free-kick from the right sideline. The ball sailed over the Falcon's defensive line, and Olivia Stewart ran onto it. Stewart trapped the ball with her chest, and then tapped the ball in with her right foot.

The Falcons narrowed the score to 2-1 fifteen minutes into the second half, but the Outlaws held onto their lead until the final whistle.

Sisters had 10 shots on goal, and the Falcons finished with eight shots on goal.

Coach Thomas Draxler said, "It was a gentler game than the last time we played Elmira, perhaps because we had such a gorgeous afternoon in Sisters that day, which made everyone more relaxed. Neither team had that many chances, but we dominated enough to secure the win."

Two days later, the Outlaws traveled to Junction City. The game began a bit shaky for the Outlaws, and the Tigers started strong, pressed hard, and got eight shots in the first twenty minutes.

But the tide shifted. Sisters caught their breath, pushed back, and got off 12 shots before halftime, one of which was a goal. Nika Chick scored on a sliding left-footed drive, after Michaela Miller set her up across the top of the box, just one minute before the end of the first half.

Three minutes into the second half, JC slipped past the Outlaws' defense on a great through-ball and beat the keeper to make it 1-1.

After the Tigers scored, they didn't seriously threaten Sisters again. The Outlaws maintained their relentless pressure, and out-shot the Tigers 7-2 in the second half, with their final goal coming five minutes before the game ended.

Chick took a pass from Olivia Watts, dribbled through two defenders, and sprinted toward the goal. The Tigers keeper came out, but Nika's shot beat her at the far post to give the Outlaws a 2-1 lead, which held until the finish.

Draxler commented on his team's performance.

"Alexa Stewart played a vital role in chasing down their fast forward, and denying her the chance to score," said Draxler. "Nika Chick played a vital role as the point of our attack, outmaneuvering their defenders to create space for herself. Each Outlaw player worked hard all over the field in adverse, muddy conditions. Not one player gave up on wanting the ball. Not one player walked off the field with a clean uniform. And, as a result, we got the result we wanted. Playing at Junction City is always a great challenge, and we relished the opportunity to come away with a win."

The win against Junction City was an important step in setting up the Outlaws' league showdown against Cottage Grove. Sisters was to play at home against Cottage Grove on Tuesday, October 20. A win against the Lady Lions would be sweet revenge for the Outlaws, as they lost at Cottage Grove earlier in the season. The Outlaws will play at Sutherlin on Thursday, October 22.

The Outlaws are currently 7-1 in league and 7-4 overall.