By Ryker Burr
For The New Era
Sweet Home’s girls soccer team fought hard but ultimately fell to the Siuslaw Vikings in their season opener.
Last year, the Green and Gold were defeated 2-5 by Siuslaw, also in their first game of the season. Last Tuesday was not an improvement as the Huskies fell 1-6 to the Vikings, losing not just points but players.
Freshman Morgan Lalonde scored the Huskies’ lone goal in the contest, doing so in buzzer-beater fashion, concluding the first half on a high note for Sweet Home.
Sweet Home entered the second half trailing by one, but was unable to continue the momentum created by Lalonde’s score, as the Huskies were outscored 5-0 in the second half.
The second half was a nightmare for Sweet Home, as they were bit hard by the injury bug, losing goalkeeper Lyndie Birkett and forward Anabelle Morris, both captains.
In addition, Miu Simmons and Shasta Marin had to exit the game early as well. The Green and Gold were already missing Ziarra Duncan due to illness, and the injuries only made things more difficult.
However, Birkett and Morris are expected to be back on the field next week.
Head Coach Ramiro Santana said Sweet Home has opportunity to improve: “We need to improve in the midfield but we don’t have the players that can play the position. We need more speed. We aren’t quick enough when finishing our plays.”
Sweet Home will look to get back up to .500 and capture its first win since 2023 at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 9, back on the road again at 3A Division Western Christian of Salem, which was 2-1 and on a heater, outscoring its opponents 13-1 in their last two matchups.
The Huskies’ first home game for the Green and Gold will be at 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 11, hosting Cottage Grove.