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Salisbury stakes claim By TIM PYLE All good teams are strong in the middle. For the 2001 Southern Oregon Conference champion South Medford girls soccer team, the central midfield is patrolled by senior Colleen Salisbury, who has been named SOC player of the year for her efforts. A first-team all-SOC forward in 2000, Salisbury made the position switch this fall and has led the Panthers to a 12-2-1 overall record, including a 7-0 SOC campaign. South travels to South Salem today for a 2:30 p.m. Class 4A second-round state-playoff match.
Coordinating the Panthers' attack, Salisbury has scored 10 goals and dished 14 assists this season. She also does her part in hampering the opposition's offense, and South has allowed just 12 goals in its 15 matches. "Colleen's an all-around player," says second-year Panthers coach Buzz Thielemann, who knew one of his biggest challenges coming into this season would be to find a replacement for 2000 all-SOC first-team central midfielder Emily Perttu. "Of all the coaching decisions I've made this year, the best one was moving Colleen from left forward to center halfback. ... She's found out this is her spot. She's elated with it." Salisbury has honed her skills through years of club ball - including a run with Eugene-based McKenzie United last year - and on the goal her father installed in the family's back yard. Salisbury admits some trepidation when she first moved back to central midfield for South's non-conference match against Sheldon on Sept. 15, but she quickly realized she had found a new home. "After the first game, I just knew that's the position I needed to play," Salisbury says. "It didn't seem like we were getting too many passes up to the forwards at the beginning of the season, and I think that improved a lot once I moved back to mid." One of Salisbury's greatest attributes is her ability to strike on long-distance free kicks. Left-footed by nature, the Panther senior has bent three goals into opposing nets on dead-ball situations this season, including one in Saturday's 3-0 win over Hood River Valley in the first round of the state playoffs. "There's no feeling like it," Salisbury says. Fellow South senior co-captains Katie Casebeer (sweeper) and Brittany Quinowski (right fullback) join Salisbury on the all-SOC first team, as do senior forward Erin Reno and junior goalkeeper Sarah Bryan. North Medford, which finished second in the SOC and takes its 10-3 record on the road to Tualatin today for a second-round match at 5 p.m., placed three players on the first team. Senior central midfielder McKenzie Weiler, junior central midfielder Lisa Munyon and senior fullback Denali Tice are all repeat first-team picks for the Black Tornado. Senior forward Morgan Downie is a repeat selection for Roseburg, and teammate Amanda Stribling, a junior fullback, is also on the first team. Grants Pass midfielders Megan Moon, a senior, and Jakki Pilcher, a sophomore, are first-team selections. Sophomore forward Sarah Lafontaine of Crater rounds out the SOC's first-team all-stars. Klamath Union coach Gerrin deGroot is the SOC's coach of the year. Reach reporter Tim Pyle at 776-4483 or e-mail tpyle@mailtribune.com |
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