Varsity 541

Sours' winning shot sweet for South

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The game plan for South Medford's girls soccer players was to go low with their shots against North Medford all-star goalkeeper Kendra McMillen.

If she's vulnerable anywhere, it's there, said Panthers coach Terry Fretz. It's a good thing for his team that Anna Sours didn't get the memo.

Sours ended a scoreless tug-of-war in the 76th minute when she powered a high shot from about 25 yards out into the left corner of the goal to give the Panthers a 1-0 win at Spiegelberg Stadium and create a logjam in the Southwest Conference title race.

The two Medford schools are 4-2 in conference and tied atop the standings with Sheldon, a 1-0 loser to South Eugene Tuesday. South Medford is 5-4-1 overall, North 5-4.

Sours set herself up for the game-winner from the right side by breaking down the Black Tornado defense on the dribble.

"She's been striking the ball so well lately," said Fretz. "A lot of the girls have been, actually. Her shots have been rockets. She had a goal in the last game from 25 or 30 yards out. She's starting to get comfortable hitting from farther out, which is what we need."

Fretz's scouting report showed McMillen, a first-team all-SWC selection last season as sophomore, stops everything waist high and higher. He had his players working on low, skipping shots on the artificial turf in pregame warmups.

Then came the high zinger from Sours.

"It was a brilliant shot," said North coach Lu Crenshaw. "My goalkeeper was very upset with herself, but it wasn't her fault."

Fretz agreed.

"There's nothing she could have done," he said.

Fretz credited his defensive line of Haley Hess, Ali Kelly and Mariah Winstead for limiting the Tornado's offense to three shots, compared to nine for South.

"We had our opportunities and didn't capitalize on them," said Crenshaw, noting that her team uncharacteristically abandoned its control game for "kickball."

"We didn't play our game," she said.

GRANTS PASS 2, ROSEBURG 1 — At Grants Pass, after a slow first half, the Grants Pass offense kicked into high gear by scoring two goals in the second half to get the win.

In a tightly contested first half, Roseburg's Hannah Russo scored the lone goal in the seventh minute.

Grants Pass answered by scoring just seven minutes into the second half on a goal from Shelby Henry off an assist from Stephanie Pepperling. Ten minutes later, Jessica Bath forced a penalty kick and converted to give the Cavers the lead.

Grants Pass (5-4-1, 3-2-1) outshot Roseburg 22-7, including 17 in the second half.

Marah Baker recorded 10 saves for the Indians (1-8-1, 1-5 SWC).

SOUTH EUGENE 1, SHELDON 0 — At Eugene, Maddy Cling scored in the 65th minute to give South Eugene the SWC triumph.

The loss dropped Sheldon into a three-way tie for first with North and South Medford. It was South Eugene's first win in league play.

Southern Sky Conference

CRATER 3, EAGLE POINT 0 — At Central Point, Crater controlled possession for well over half the contest and used two goals from Taylor McGee to dispatch the Eagles.

McGee scored in the 32nd and 65th minutes, and Kayla Burns pushed in a goal at the 51-minute mark to go with an earlier assist.

Senior goalkeeper Katie Orr recorded three saves for the Comets (5-4-2, 4-0 SSC), who had 14 shots on goal.

MAZAMA 2, KLAMATH UNION 1 — At Klamath Falls, Maria Dominguez's goal in the 52nd minute proved to be the difference as Mazama seized the Southern Sky Conference triumph.

Mikayla Garrard put the Vikings on the board first in the 19th minute mark. Darian Grigsby assisted both goals for the Vikings, who outshot KU 16-2.

The Pelicans' Audra Lundy tied the score in the 38th minute on a pass from Kaelea Crosby.

District 6

PHOENIX 1, CASCADE CHRISTIAN 0, SHOOTOUT — At Talent, junior goalie Courtney Scoggins scored one of two Phoenix goals in the shootout and had four saves on Cascade Christian penalty kicks during the shootout.

The teams were scoreless through regulation and two 10-minute overtime periods.

Phoenix (2-6, 2-6 Dist. 6) won the shootout, 2-1.

The Pirates received goals in the shootout on their first two attempts by Scoggins and Carlee Storey.

Stephanie Smith netted as the Challengers second shooter in the shootout.

HENLEY 4, ROGUE RIVER 0 — At Klamath Falls, Henley scored two quick goals in the opening minutes to run away with the victory.

Jennifer Ramirez scored in the fourth minute, and Jenna Kennedy tallied in the 13th for the Hornets.

Karli Berg scored in the 35th minute off an assist from Hannah Hankins, and Claire Whitmore scored in the 60th minute.

HIDDEN VALLEY 4, NORTH VALLEY 0 — At Murphy, led by Dana Powell, Hidden Valley's offense exploded in the second half to get the District 6 victory.

Hidden Valley scored all four of its goals in the second half, with two coming in quick succession from Powell in the 71st and 75th minutes.

Jessie Hanger began the scoring with a goal in the 45th minute off an assist from Jennifer Carter, and Matti Lindgren doubled the lead for the Mustangs (7-1, 6-1 Dist. 6) on an unassisted goal in the 66th minute.