Lady Outlaws ready for state

The Lady Outlaws wrapped up league play with an 8-0 win on the road at Elmira on Monday, October 28, and finished league with an 8-4 record and second-place finish. Ranked 12th in the state, they earned a first round bye. They will play Banks on Wednesday, November 6, in round two of the 3A/2A/1A Soccer State Championships. The match will start at 5:00 p.m. and be played at Hillsboro Stadium.

In Tuesday’s shutout against Elmira, Ella Davis scored all three of Sisters first half goals, the first at the 19-minute mark. Davis had a give-and-go with Shae Wyland just outside the 18. Davis received the ball back and passed it on the ground past the keeper to start the scoring.

Davis scored two more quick goals, at the 21st and 25th minute for a hat trick. Wyland played a through ball to Davis from the midfield, and Davis ran onto the ball and booted it into the right corner on the ground for the score. The next goal came when Davis dribbled up the line on the wing, beat a defender, and sent the ball on the ground into the far right side netting. At the half Sisters held a 3-0 lead.

The scoring frenzy ramped up in the second half with five additional goals.

One minute into the final half the ball was played to Emma Symonds, who passed the ball through the defense to Davis. Davis dribbled toward the keeper and then sent the ball over her head into the upper middle section of the goal.

Zoee Bafford got in on the scoring action in the 57th minute and scored on a penalty shot after the Falcons were called for a handball in the box.

Bafford knocked in another goal just 30 seconds later. She dribbled down the wing, beat her defender, launched the ball from outside into the far left corner for the score, which put Sisters on top 6-0.

Davis scored the Outlaws final two goals of the contest, a header in the 59th minute and two minutes later a shot on the ground into the back right corner of the net.

There was still 20 minutes left on the clock, but with the Outlaws ahead 8-0, the mercy rule went into effect and the game was called.

Coach Makena Zorza said, “It was a slow start for the Outlaws in terms of movement and decision making, but after that they really turned it on in the second half. The girls connected well as a team and took advantage of their opportunities.”

Zorza made note of several of her players.

“Ella (Davis) had some awesome breakaways and runs up top, leading her to repeatedly find the back of the net,” said Zorza. “Shae (Wyland), Mia (Rosas), Devon (Stevens), and Zoee (Bafford) also had some great through balls and crosses that helped our team keep pressure on the Falcon’s defense and goalkeeper. Our defensive line (Nona Smith, Ella Eby, Verbena Brent, and Addie Clayton) and goalkeeper (Kennedy Davis) did great and kept the Falcons out of our half which led to the shut out.”