PREP SOCCER: Crater falls short in Roseburg
ROSEBURG — Crater’s boys soccer team gave itself a chance but the Comets couldn’t come up with the scoring it needed in a season-opening 4-2 loss to Roseburg Saturday.
Crater junior Diego Estrada, who played goalkeeper in the first half, seized his opportunity to play in the field with a goal in the 63rd minute that trimmed the Comets’ deficit to 3-2 and seemed to give his team momentum.
Try as they might, though, the Comets were unable to net an equalizer and Roseburg (1-0) was able to capitalize on a scramble in the box in the final minutes to secure an insurance goal.
“We had a ton of attempts down toward the end of the game,” said Crater coach Jason Tester, “we just couldn’t find the end of the net.”
Roseburg was the beneficiary of a handball call in the box and used a penalty kick to go up 1-0 early in the match, but junior Cooper Hopkins brought Crater even with his goal in the 14th minute off an assist by sophomore Eddy Thurman.
The Indians used a late score in the first half and another early in second-half action to build a 3-1 advantage before Estrada was able to capitalize off an assist by junior Jesse Ruvalcaba.
WILSONVILLE 1, ASHLAND 0: At Wilsonville, Ashland was unable to take advantage of a multitude of chances and Wilsonville made a 16th-minute goal stand in holding off the Grizzlies.
Wilsonville defender Joseph Friedman rose above the Ashland (0-1) defense on a corner kick to score the lone goal of the game.
Ashland striker Davidson Graham, the Grizzlies’ leading returning goal scorer, had a handful of chances in the game but was unable to finish any of them.
Ashland goalkeeper Mateo Moore finished with six saves, while the Grizzlies’ defenders in front of him — Lucas Poareo Davidson, Cedric Huston and Rico Moore — all had strong games.
Wilsonville improved to 2-0 with the win.
Girls
ROSEBURG 2, CRATER 1: At Roseburg, Crater’s second-half rally nearly saw the Comets earn a draw in their season opener, but Roseburg scored in the final seconds to get the win.
Roseburg (1-0) was able to grab the game-winner when a long ball sent in toward the Crater goal stayed in the air long enough to get over Comets keeper Fallon Campbell.
It was a tough end to the day for Campbell, who was otherwise strong in goal and finished with six saves.
Crater (0-1) tied the game in the 60th minute when freshman Addison Dippel sent in a cross to junior captain Joslyn Sizemore, who flicked it in with the outside of her boot.
Roseburg opened the scoring in the 11th minute on a goal by senior captain Madison Van Acker.
Dippel and fellow freshman Ella Heppner, a winger, had strong performances in their varsity debuts for the Comets.
SUTHERLIN 9, CASCADE CHRISTIAN 1: At Sutherlin, Cascade Christian’s lone goal came from senior midfielder Katie Erno, with junior midfielder Autumn Murray recording the assist, in the season-opening loss.
Sutherlin (1-0) led 6-1 at halftime, and the game was halted in the 74th minute due to the eight-goal mercy rule.