Soccer teams drop games on the road

The boys and girls soccer squads both lost their games at Newport on Friday, October 4 — the boys a 2-1 loss and the girls a 1-0 loss.

Sisters’ boys started their game a bit sluggish, due in part to the long four-hour bus ride and also having to make adjustments to playing on turf instead of grass. The team settled in and found a good tempo, but couldn’t find the back of the box. At the half, it was deadlocked 0-0.

Early in the second half, Newport had a beautiful strike on the ball and scored to go up 1-0.

Coach Jeff Husmann told The Nugget that there was very little keeper Oscar Rhett could do to prevent the score.

“Oscar played perhaps his best match of the season, and he continues to gain confidence and knowledge in goal,” said Husmann. “He has really been a key player for the team this year.”

The Cubs scored again at the midway mark and took a 2-0 lead.

Husmann stated the team was resilient and continued to battle.

“We pressed high and took some chances, and earned some set pieces in the finishing third,” said Husmann. “Simon (Rhett) not only played one heck of a game as the stopper in defense, but made some smart runs up the middle, which created some opportunities offensively.”

With five minutes left on the clock, the Outlaws scored as a result of their high press. Connor Linn won the ball on the end-line and zipped it into the center of the Cub’s defense, just in front of the goal, where it bounced off one of their defenders and into the net.

“Though an own goal, it shows that good things happen when we are aggressive,” said Husmann. “We continue to be competitive, but have struggled to ‘put the round thing in the rectangle’. I am quite proud of the resilience of this team.”

The Lady Outlaws played at Newport the same afternoon, and also got off to a slow start. The Cubs scored on a breakaway about 15 minutes into the game and took an early lead.

At the half, Sisters trailed 1-0. Coach Brain Holden told the Outlaws they needed quicker ball movement and to build an attack, and they did just what he asked in the second half.

The Outlaws were in front of the Cub’s goal constantly, but just couldn’t get the ball in the back of the net, something they’ve struggled with all year.

Holden said, “The girls are doing everything right to put themselves in a position to score, and the more experience they have on the field, they’ll eventually have success. They are fighters, they don’t quit, and they’re hungry for wins; everything you want as a coach, but they need to be more detailed in the final third of the soccer field.”

The girls will play at home against Cascade on Wednesday, October 9, and the boys squad will play at Cascade.