Girls soccer posts two more shutouts

The Lady Outlaws soccer squad tallied two more shut- outs last week - a 5-0 win at home against Pleasant Hill (PH) on Tuesday, October 3, and two days later a 4-0 shutout on the road against Siuslaw.

At home on Tuesday, the Outlaws were determined and motivated to buckle down and play their game against a good Pleasant Hill squad. The Billies have always been a strong league competitor, and the Outlaws have struggled against them in the past, even though they've come out on top.

This time around was a different story, as Sisters totally dominated play in the first half and held the Billies to just one shot on goal. Pleasant Hill got off a good shot, but goalie Ava Reihle pushed it wide and kept it out of the net. At the half the score was 0-0.

During the halftime break, the Outlaws captains motivated their team, told them PH was tired, and encouraged their teammates to be patient.

The Outlaws came out on fire in the second half and scored five goals. The first came eight minutes in when Marley Holden played the ball to Zoee Bafford, who beat her opponent and chipped the far post for the score.

Ten minutes later Lilly Sundstrom centered the ball to Maggie Lutz, who chipped the keeper from 25 yards out for the score and a 2-0 Outlaw lead. In the 64th minute, Katie Ryan assisted Juhree Kizziar for the goal. Ryan and Kizziar had great movement back and forth and Ryan finished with a ball through the keeper's hands.

Sisters scored two additional goals in the final four minutes of the contest. Tallis Grummer had a quick throw in to Riley Bick, who dribbled toward the goal. Bick laid a simple ball off to Ryan, who scored with a nice one-touch into the lower right corner. Kizziar wrapped up the scoring spree when she finished with a beautiful goal into the upper right corner of the net, thanks to a Grummer assist.

"Juhree composed herself and didn't overthink or overpower her shot," said Holden.

"I'm proud of the team for coming out the way they did after that loss to Central Linn," added Holden. "They stuck to their game and I'm proud of them for playing the most beautiful soccer I've seen them play so far."

Coach Brian Holden told The Nugget that Izzy Schiller, Shae Wyland, and Lilly Sundstrom, who all played defense this game, had great communication between the three of them, and their speed on the outside and Schiller's experience ran the defense perfectly.

Holden also made note of Maggie Lutz and Marley Holden, who he stated were work horses in the middle, distributed the ball, found their teammates, and were offensive threats.

Two days later the Outlaws made the long four-hour road trip to Siuslaw.

Katie Ryan got Sisters on the scoreboard in minute 20 when Marley Holden played a through ball to her, which she finished into the lower left corner.

Ten minutes later, Holden scored. Ella Davis cut in from her wing position, evaded a couple of defenders, and laid the ball off to Holden, who scored from 10 yards out into the lower left. At the half the Outlaws held a 2-0 lead.

Ryan scored right in front of the net for her second goal of the contest early in the second half. Sisters' final goal came when Bafford took a corner kick and delivered the ball high to Holden, who headed it in from 10 yards out over the goalie's hands and just under the crossbar.

Coach Holden had praise for Ryan.

"Katie is such an intelligent soccer player and can read the game before it develops," said Holden. "She anticipates where to be to receive the ball and is strategic about positioning herself."

A week earlier, on Tuesday, September 26, the Lady Outlaws suffered a 1-2 loss to Central Linn (CL), their first loss of the season.

It's difficult for all teams in the league to play at CL as they are allowed to compete on their elementary school field, which is significantly smaller than a normal regulation soccer field. Sisters came out strong with shots that hit the crossbar, two that hit the post, and several that were near misses on follow-up shots. They dominated play in the first half, but just couldn't hit the back of the net.

Central Linn scored with just 10 minutes left in the first half. The Outlaws were a bit disorganized in the back and the Cobras were able to score.

Coach Holden said, "We need to do a better job of not buying into other teams' frantic play and chaos. This was the first time the Outlaws have trailed in one-and-a-half to two years, but it was good for us to be in that position, so when we do compete against better teams in the playoffs we'll know how to play in that scenario."

At the start of the second half, the Outlaws were motivated and hungry. Three minutes in, Ella Davis laid the ball off to Lilly Sundstrom, who cut to the inside and had a beautiful right foot shot over the keeper's head to knot it up 1-1.

"The girls were fired up and knew they were in the game," said Holden.

The remainder of the half, the Outlaws played in the Cobras' half, but according to Holden their play was still a bit chaotic, and the small field felt very congested.

In the final minute CL had a corner kick, and the Outlaws were able to clear it. Unfortunately, a Cobra player was able to gather the ball and made a nice shot into the upper left corner, and earned the win.

It was a tough loss for the Outlaws as they had 17 shots on goal, compared to CL's four.

"I'm proud of the girls for their composure after the loss," said Holden. "It's easy to show sportsmanship when you win but to show class with a loss makes me proud to see."

Despite the Outlaws' lone loss, they are a team to be reckoned with. Their defense especially is to be noted, as they have the least amount of goals scored on them in the entire state of Oregon. Currently they've scored 45 goals and only allowed three goals to be scored against them.

Of his defense Holden said, "The entire season we've continued to move people around in defensive positions, and the last couple of games we've narrowed it down to who our starters will be as we finish the season (Lilly Sundstrom, Shae Wyland, and Izzy Schiller). We've selected players that have strength and speed on the outside. Izzy will be playing as center back and will bring experience, communication, and leadership to that position.

"The team has come together, they understand their roles, and have strengthened bonds, which will be important as we finish the season," added Holden.

Sisters was to play at home against Santiam Christian on Tuesday, October 10. They will host the Elmira Falcons on Thursday.