Sweet Home’s girls beat Sisters 2-1 at home Thursday evening, Oct. 12, in soccer.
The Huskies got off to a quick start as Milah Weld took the ball up the middle, got around a defender and took a shot that sailed over the Outlaw goalie’s head six minutes into the game.
Shortly after, Toree Hawken connected on a similar shot to put the Huskies ahead 2-0 at halftime.
“That was a game that was actually not a lot of shooting,” said Coach Ramiro Santana. Much of the contest was back and forth across the field.
The Outlaws shot the ball seven times, Santana said. The Huskies shot 16 times.
Sisters had opportunities to score, Santana said, but the Outlaws didn’t shoot and connect until the end of the game.
The Huskies played solid defense, Santana said.
The Huskies lost 4-0 at home against Junction City on Oct. 10. They trailed 2-0 at halftime, with Junction City scoring 17 minutes and 21 minutes into the half. The Tigers scored a minute into the second half and again in the minute 15.
Already down some players, the team had more leave the game with injuries against Junction City.
Kendyl Stutzman went out when Junction City started scoring, Santana said. “That’s when things started to break down on our defense.”
Ashley Farthing went out with an injury, and Junction City scored again.
“That’s when Junction City started to get better and moved the ball much better on us,” Santana said. Madelyn Neuschwander came out. She and Stutzman are key defenders.
Also out were Katelynn Towry and Hannah Ramsey.
Santana had to drop Cora McKee and Jessi Thomas back to defend, he said. Freshman Esther Ramsey came in to help boost defense, and freshman Emily Farthing stepped up in midfield where her sister plays.
Rachel Busek also stepped up to help on defense, Santana said.
The staffing shortage continued into the Sisters game, he said. “All the girls I think stepped up and probably played best game. The next two games I hope will be the same.”
The Huskies, 2-6, are fifth in league behind Cottage Grove, 3-4-1; Elmira, 4-4; Sutherlin, 5-2-1; and Junction City, 7-0-1. Sisters, 1-6-1, is in last.
The Huskies were scheduled to play at Sutherlin Tuesday and host Cottage Grove at 7 p.m. Thursday.
If the Huskies can win their next two games, Santana said, it could shake things up higher in the standings depending on how other games in league turn out.
In the right circumstances, a playoff appearance could come down to the difference in goals scored between the Huskies and another team.