Rawlins Lupoli ran the field to lift the Sweet Home High School boys soccer team to a 1-1 tie Thursday at Elmira.
Elmira was a thorn in the Huskies’ sides last year, delivering two of the Huskies’ four losses in league.
“This year wasn’t quite as physical,” said Coach Eric Stutzer. This is the first time in his memory the Huskies have beaten or tied Elmira. “They’ve always been the one we should’ve beaten but never did. That keeps us alive in league play.”
Sisters lost to Cottage Grove, and Junction City beat Sutherlin, leaving the Huskies and Elmira at the center of the league standings.
“That’s the first time Sisters has lost a game in league in eight years,” Stutzer said. Last year, the Huskies tied Sisters in one game, the first time it hadn’t won a game in that period.
Against Elmira, the injured Huskies roster was at about 70 percent. Rowland Lupoli played keeper, but his injuries kept him at 60 to 70 percent of his capacity. Rawlins Lupoli was probably at about 70 percent, and Noah Webb remained on the sideline.
Still, it was the first time the team fielded a decent experienced roster, with both Lupolis on the field, Stutzer said.
“We played a pretty good first half,” Stutzer said. “They scored late in the first half, about 10 minutes before halftime off a pretty good play across the middle.”
The Huskies had a wing defender out of position a little, and Elmira made the play.
“We didn’t score until two minutes left in the game,” Stutzer said. That’s when Rawlins Lupoli ran the field and put it in the net.
“He was ticked,” Stutzer said. “It was an awesome example of what a captain does. He took it on his shoulders and got the job done.”
The Huskies weren’t getting a lot of shots on goal, Stutzer said. “It was quite a midfield battle.”
The Huskies had just three shots on the game, and Elmira had 11.
“Rowland had 10 quality saves,” Stutzer said. “Except the one that went by.”
Stutzer said he was happy with the tie on the road against a team like Elmira given the struggles his team has had, but the team still has a lot of work to do.
On Sept. 12, Newport dominated a battered Sweet Home 10-0.
“It was all injury and depth,” Stutzer said. Webb was off the field. Rowland Lupoli left the field quickly, and Rawlins Lupoli was out by halftime, along with three other starters.
Canceling and borrowing from the junior varsity, the Huskies lacked experience and depth as they faced off against the defending state champion. Newport scored just twice in the first half and then scored eight more in the second half.
Stutzer noted that Elmira lost just 4-2 to Newport.
“Owen Towry was phenomenal at keeper,” Stutzer said. “He came out and played the game of his life.”
Newport was on the Huskies’ half of the field 98 percent of the game, Stutzer said. That means a lot of action going the goalie’s way.
Newport shot the ball 35 to 40 times and had nine corner kicks, Stutzer said, while the Huskies had just four shots all game. Towry came up with 30 to 35 saves on the game.
Newport’s shots were solid too, Stutzer said. They were on frame, “spectacular ones that really showed what the future of keeper’s going to be.”
Around the field, Eric Blanchard, a first-year player, did a very good job moving into the center spot on defense, Stutzer said. “He was carrying a lot of weight on his shoulders.”
Zech Brown battled in the second half and created some offensive looks, Stutzer said.
“The JV did very well against Elmira,” Stutzer said. Playing 8-8, the Huskies lost 5-3. The game was tied 1-1 at halftime.
Zerini Owen had a hat trick, scoring three goals, Stutzer said. Evan Davis played well, and Brown did a good job at keeper.
The Huskies took 10 shots on goal with no subs available for the game, while Elmira shot 20 times using a deep bench full of subs. The Huskies had none.
“We were both ecstatic with how they played,” Stutzer said of the coaching staff.
The JV is coached by Huck Thomas.
The Huskies will host Sisters at 6:30 p.m. Thursday and travel to Sutherlin at 7 p.m. Tuesday.