The girls' varsity soccer team defeated Marist in a nail-biter that ended in a 4-2 win in overtime on Tuesday, September 19.

Marist jumped out in the first five minutes of the game to take a 1-0 lead.

"They scored from way out," said Coach Brian Holden. "We weren't expecting the shot. They caught the whole team off-guard, and the goal just slipped in."

From there, both teams had equal possession of the ball and opportunities to finish. In the 77th minute, with just three minutes to go in regulation play, Mindy Marr scored on a penalty kick to tie the game 1-1.

"She was very composed and placed it right over the keeper's hands and sent it into overtime (OT)," said Holden.

Marist came out strong and scored in the first two minutes of overtime and took a 2-1 advantage over Sisters. The Lady Outlaws answered back three minutes later with a goal from Marr that tied the game 2-2.

With two minutes left in the first half of OT, Liz Dale scored, and the Outlaws took the lead for the first time.

Dale capped Sisters' scoring with five minutes left in the game, and Sisters notched the 4-2 win in the scorebook.

Dale said, "The intensity and competitiveness was so high, and it was so much fun to win! Everyone played their best, and no one gave up."

Holden had praise for keeper Tori Carlson.

"Tori has become a more experienced player. She knows when to tip the ball over, when to punch it away and when to keep it in her hands," said Holden.

"The girls came out to win, and they weren't intimidated by Marist. A lot of teams would have crumbled, and they didn't. I'm so proud of how they kept playing. I demand and expect almost perfection at practice, and today their hard work paid off."

Two days later the Lady Outlaws downed Junction City (JC) 4-2 in overtime.

Katie Taylor scored a hat trick (3 goals) to lead Sisters to their victory over the Tigers. Taylor scored an unassisted goal for the Outlaws 15 minutes into the game to put Sisters up 1-0.

"The defense wasn't clearing it, and the ball was loose in the middle," said Holden. "Katie put her foot on it and scored."

JC tied the game up 1-1. Before the whistle blew sounding the half, Taylor scored another unassisted goal to give the Outlaws a 2-1 advantage.

The Outlaws were held scoreless in the second half. JC scored in the last 10 minutes to tie it up 2-2 and send the game into overtime (OT).

The wind was blowing in one direction the entire game. For half of the game the Outlaws were able to shoot from far out, and the other half it was hard for them to clear the ball.

The Outlaws had to defend into the wind the first 10 minutes of OT. Holden expressed to his players it was very important to hold JC scoreless and to do their best defending into the wind.

Sisters was able to do just that, and the score held at 2-2 midway through OT.

The Lady Outlaws had the advantage the second half of OT and played with the wind. Taylor knocked the ball into the back of the net for her third goal of the night, and the Outlaws took a 3-2 lead. Mindy Marr, with an assist from Hattie Tehan, capped Sisters' scoring in the last five minutes of overtime and sealed the Outlaws' 4-2 victory.

Holden said, "Liz (Dale) passed the ball to Hattie (Tehan), who was quickly double teamed. Hattie lost her opportunity to score but was smart with the ball. She dropped it back to Mindy at 20 yards out. Mindy did a one touch into the upper right corner of the net. I don't think any keeper could have stopped it."

Holden told The Nugget he's pleased with his team's play on the road.

"If you want to be successful in conference, you have to win on the road, and the girls are doing a very good job," he said.

The Lady Outlaws will play at La Pine on Thursday, September 28.