The Huskies finished their season in girls soccer on Nov. 29 at Cottage Grove, losing 3-1 in a play-in game for the state playoffs.
“It was a good game,” said Coach Ramiro Santana. “We played good.”
The league is one of those where anyone can win on any given night, he said. The Huskies tied the Lions in their first game this season and then beat them 1-0 the second time.
Cottage Grove scored the first goal around the minute 36 in the first half, when defender Courtney Kent and goalkeeper Haley Kent had a little miscommunication, Santana said. Courtney was in front of Haley, but a shot slipped by her and the Haley.
Cottage Grove led 1-0 at halftime and added two more goals in the second half. The Huskies scored their goal with about 12 minutes left in the game. Katie Virtue put it in on a goal kick from outside, Santana said. “It kind of bounced weird before it got to the goalie.”
The season started out a little rocky as the girls searched for preseason games to play following cancellations. Things got better following four losses and two ties, when the Huskies ran a five-game winning streak that put them in contention for second place in league behind undefeated Sisters.
They then fell to fourth place with losses to Sisters and Junction City to end the regular season.
“We are feeling good,” Santana said. “We were hoping we could go a little further.”
The girls played better each time they went out this season, Santana said. “It was a good year for the girls.”
The preseason cancellations caused problems putting the team together and assigning positions, Santana said, but “once we started to settle down and figure all the pieces, the girls started playing better. I wish we could’ve gone a little further. I think we could have.”
The team loses nine seniors, including Haley and Courtney Kent, Natalie and Katy Currey, Katie Virtue, Jessica Hoover, Auna Davis, Mikaela Steiner and Lacey Carranza, who was out this season following surgery.