Henley gets late goal to surge by Phoenix

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TALENT — The determination of Henley's Michael Kelly proved to be the difference against Phoenix in Skyline Conference boys soccer Tuesday at Colver Field.

With the game tied 1-all, Kelly got into the open field in the 65th minute for a breakaway shot that was saved thanks to a diving stop by Phoenix goalkeeper Gresham Prehn.

When the ball came out of Prehn's hands as the senior crashed back to the ground, Kelly was right there to poke the ball into the net for a 2-1 lead that would stand up.

"It was a smart, head's up play by Michael Kelly to follow his shot like he did," said Phoenix coach Dennis Flenner, "because he wouldn't have gotten that goal if he didn't."

"We fought like mad dogs the last 15 minutes after that, between them backing up and us trying to poke it in to no avail," added the coach.

Phoenix outshot Henley 15-8, but Flenner said many of those shots were desperation tries over the final few minutes as the fourth-ranked Hornets built a defensive wall and denied the Pirates (2-1, 0-1 Skyline).

Henley had taken a 1-0 lead into halftime on a goal by Matt Kelly in the 30th minute.

Phoenix answered two minutes into the second half when senior Frankie Torres found junior Chris Solis in the box for an 8-yard effort that tied the game.

"Frankie laid it out to Chris to nail it, and he just did an awesome job," said Flenner.

NORTH VALLEY 5, ILLINOIS VALLEY 0 — At Merlin, Tyler Goens scored twice as North Valley (1-1 overall) opened Skyline Conference play with the win.

Both his goals were in the first half to go with scores by Matthew Wessels and Gavin Rodgers to make it 4-0 at halftime. The Knights' other tally was on a header to the back post by Kristopher Wessels following a cross from Zane Willing.

Kevin Hagenbuch and Kristopher Wessels were in goal for the shutout.

Nonconference

NORTH MEDFORD 2, CRATER 0 — At Central Point, freshman Jesus Solorio scored in the 39th minute on a breakaway and sophomore Brandon Schoenmann added another goal in the 56th minute as the Black Tornado (1-0-1) earned the nonconference victory at Crater's Dutch Meyer Field.

North Medford outshot Crater, 18-16. The Comets (1-1) had a shot hit the crossbar and another sail over the goal on a direct kick near the box.

GRANTS PASS 5, MARSHFIELD 0 — At Coos Bay, Kevin Wilcox scored twice and Jamey Keefe was solid in goal in Grants Pass' nonconference win.

The Cavemen, 1-2 overall, also got scores from Eddie Mendoza, Taylor Griggs and Sterling Brown.

ROSEBURG 5, CHURCHILL 1 — At Roseburg, Roseburg scored three goals in the final four minutes to secure the nonconference win.

Josh Malone scored in the 76th minute before giving two through balls to Aaron Sunerburk, who buried both shots in the back of the net.

Lucas Walker scored the first two goals of the game for Roseburg, first off a cross from Steven Strickland in the 40th minute and then an unassisted goal in the 57th minute.

EAGLE POINT 3, ST. MARY'S 2 — At Eagle Point, after a scoreless first half, Eagle Point exploded for three goals in the first 30 minutes of the second period.

Tyler VanDyke scored for the Eagles at about the 50th minute when his bicycle kick went off a St. Mary's defender and into the goal.

Dario Madera gave the Eagles a 2-0 lead 10 minutes later on a free kick from 30 yards and Alex Rodriguez finished a breakaway off a pass from Andres Tavarez in the 70th minute.

St. Mary's junior midfielder Elliott Coughlin scored on a blistering shot from close to 30 yards out and Juan Ramirez put a corner kick in the net in extra time for the Crusaders' other goal.

Junior Lou Arne played a tenacious game at midfield for St. Mary's (1-1-0).

COTTAGE GROVE 5, HIDDEN VALLEY 1 — At Cottage Grove, Antwone Mootz had three goals and Tim Eckstein two for Cottage Grove in the nonconference win.

It was 4-0 at halftime.

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