The Nugget Newspaper - News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon

The Lady Outlaws soccer squad started their week with a 1-1 tie at Pleasant Hill (PH) on Monday, October 3, and two days later shut out the Hawks at La Pine, 7-0.

In Tuesday’s road game, the Billies came out with confidence and pressure, and immediately put the Outlaws on their heels.

Sisters had a difficult time adjusting to the artificial turf, which was extremely fast, and their defense had to work hard the entire game. Both teams had a few opportunities to score, but neither could find the back of the net, and at the half the score was deadlocked 0-0.

The Outlaws came out in the second half with better play, and were able to connect their passes. In the 60th minute, Sisters got on the scoreboard. The ball was played wide to Becca Clausen, who beat her opponent and shot the ball into the lower left corner of the goal.

Coach Brian Holden said, “With 20 minutes left, we tucked our players in and back to clog up the middle, but we had trouble getting the ball out of our defensive third.”

Sisters kept the Billies from scoring until there were only three minutes left on the clock, when PH managed to get a goal and tie it up 1-1.

“It was a heartbreaking goal,” said Holden. “But our girls will continue to grow each game, learn from their mistakes, and stay close as a team.”

Holden made note of Becca Clausen and Tatem Cramer.

“I’m proud of Becca, as she’s become a reliable winger,” said Holden. “She knows what to do with the ball and plays the game the same from start to finish. Tatem played an extremely strong and physical game, and I’d like to see this continue from her.”

After the heart-wrenching tie, the Outlaws came out against La Pine with confidence and put on a display with their crisp passes.

Clausen, with an assist from Shae Wyland, scored at the 15-minute mark. The defense passed the ball from side-to-side and then Wyland passed the ball up the line to Clausen, who cut inside and made a great goal from the corner of the 18.

Five minutes later Cramer scored off an assist from Analise Backus, and at the half the Outlaws were up 2-0.

Marley Holden scored just four minutes into the second half off an assist from Izzy Schiller. Both Holden and Schiller play in the midfield, and they played the ball back and forth, and were calm and patient in the middle. Schiller laid the ball off to Holden, who sent the ball into the lower left corner of the net.

Just a few minutes later, Ella Davis beat her defender, dribbled to the inside, and made a great pass to Holden in the middle for the score. Holden scored on an unassisted goal three minutes later, to give her a hat trick for the day and push Sisters to a 5-0 advantage.

With 20 minutes left on the clock, Schiller dribbled to the outside, beat her opponent, and made a beautiful shot from the corner of the 18 into the upper right corner of the goal. Sisters a final goal came when Holden passed the ball through the Hawks’ center back up to Cramer, who broke away and had a powerful shot that went off the crossbar and into the goal. Sisters held the Hawks scoreless for the remainder of the game and recorded the win.

Holden said, “It was nice to see some of our younger players get time and opportunity on the field. Tallis Grummer in particular displayed good passing in the midfield and created a couple good goal opportunities for herself.”

The Outlaws are 7-0-3 in league and remain in second place overall. Sisters was to play at home against Siuslaw on Monday, October 10. They will travel to Santiam Christian on Thursday.