Sports
2006
Young Lions team hopes to match last year's success
m
S achie H opkins ____________
Staff Reporter
The Lions ha ve their
minds set on advancing
deep into the playoffs,
but the question is: Do
they have the depth and
skill to repeat the success
they had last year? Last
year West Linn reached
the quarterfinals of the
State playoffs, and this
year's more inexperienced
group hopes to exceed that
performance.
The main difference
will be the loss of Jamie
Abrahamson, an All-State
forward who graduated last
June. The Lions will have
to rely upon their depth
and speed to make it to the
playoffs.
In the season opener, a
1-0 win, the Lions played
well, despite the close score,
controlling the ball most
of the gafrie. Grant's Pass
focused on their defense,
preventing more goals
from the Lion's forwards.
Even so, 15 minutes into
the second half Liz Sloop,
senior, scored from close
range, on a well placed pass
from Jazmine Whitlock,
sophomore.
"It was our first game so
we were still learning how
to play together, overall
though, we did really well,"
Becca Hoiland, sophomore,
said.
In the second non
league game, the Lions
were unable to keep up
with the Grant Generals,
eventually losing the game
by a score of 1-0. Grant has
won its first five games in
convincing fashion; with
the match against West
Linn recording the closest
margin.
West Linn faced
Lakeridge in the first
league game, and although
Lakeridge seemed to be in
control, West Linn put up
a good fight, settling for a
2-2 tie. Although the Lions
would have appreciated
a win, the tie prevented
them from dropping several
spots in the standings. Both
Whitlock and Sami DeMars,
junior, scored, and though
the Lions had several other
good looks at the goal, they
were unable to convert.
The Lions won their
second game in a 1-0 win
over a competitive Oregon
City team. Hoiland scored
the game's lone goal. To top
it off, West Linn won again
five days later, 3-2 over
Clackamas.
West Linn suffered their
second loss of the season
to Lake Oswego on Sept.
21, 5-0. Although it was a
tough game for the Lions, it
was their first league loss,
leaving them with a record
of 2-1-1. Lake Oswego is off
to a good start with a 3-0-0
record in league play.
"We're not very big,
Alison Vogt, sophomore, kicks the ball in a home game against the
Clackamas Cavaliers on Sept 19. The team went on to win 2-3.
Photo by Colton Reyes
so we're going to have to
rely on our speed and ball
handling to win," Hoiland
said.
Despite their two losses,
this year's young but very
talented team will likely be
able to fill the holes left by
last year's seniors. Veteran
leadership will come from
Sloop, as well as Megan
Foster and Susan Schrank,
seniors. There is also a
strong core of sophomores
including, Taylor Brooke
who was last year's number
two scorer, Whitlock,
Haelee Staskiewicz,
Hoiland and Ali Vogt.
There are still many
question marks left for the
Lions, but the one of most
important is: will the Lions
have the poise and maturity
to make another run into
the State playoffs?
11
"We have a young team,
but one that has good
chemistry and a lot of
talent.. .we'll do well this
year," Hoiland said.
West Linn has several
competitive games coming
up including a game against
Oregon City at home on
Oct. 9 at 6:30 p.m. and a
match at Clackamas on Oct.
11 at 7 p.m.
Young boys soccer team needs to gel;
can acheive big things this season
m L ogan
K elly _______________
Staff Reporter
Varsity Boys Soccer
Coach Greg Bean is
enthusiastic about this
season. He aims to bring
a playoff game to Lion
Stadium.
"We need to put together
two halves to compete in
our league," Bean said.
West Linn opened its
season with a 3-0 win
against Grants Pass on the
first day of school but was
defeated by Lincoln and
Lakeridge in their next two
league games. The Lions
managed to snap their
losing streak in style with a
6-0 win over Oregon City.
The West Linn boys
soccer program is young,
losing 12 players last
season. That means little
though, according to Bean,
as the boys currently on the
team are fast, strong and
tall: perfect for high school
soccer. Bean is bringing all
he can to the team using his
experience in implementing
high intensity tactics
that he expects will be
immensly successful once
they learn them.
Until then, the Lions
have a lot of work to do.
They have a bit of talent,
but they are unorganized
according to Bean. People
who watched them play
against the Lakeridge
Pacers must have seen a
worrying lack of chemistry
among the players.
"First half, we
played like the young
inexperienced team we are.
The second half, we played
to our ability," Bean said.
They had their moments
though. With around 25
minutes left, Carter el
Habassi, midfielder, created
some magic starting with
a Brazilian pass, ending
with a beautiful through
ball resulting in a goal. The
final score was 4-2 with the
game going to the Pacers.
Most high schools in the
Three Rivers Conference
have Varsity soccer teams
Ryan Squires, sophomore, makes a defensive tackle against an Oregon
City attacker. The Lions finished with a 6-0 win.
Photo by Aubree White
with almost whole starting
lineups of club players.
Most have players playing
for top clubs such as FC
Portland ( FC, a common
abbreviation for clubs
intemationaly meaning
Football Club) and
Westside among others.
Only five club players man
the Lions Varsity squad.
West Linn showed that
stats on the paper mean
nothing in soccer by
bouncing back with the
huge win over the Oregon
City Pioneers at home.
"Good result, but let's
keep it in perspective.
In that game, it wasn't
whether you won, it was
how we won," Bean said.
Following the Oregon
City game, the Lions found
themselves on the losing
side of a 4-1 score against
the Clackamas Cavaliers.
The Lions came back
and proved to their fans
what they were capable
of against Lake Oswego.
The first half of the game
drew comments from the
crowd such as "boring, flat,
no intensity." The second
half was a far different
story. After going down
3-1 midway through the
second half, the Lions
started playing more direct,
quick soccer.
Joe Offer, goalkeeper,
came up with some big
saves after the break. El
Habbasi took a beating at
midfield. Drawing yellow
card after yellow card, he
lifted the team to create
two penalty kicks, which
resulted in two goals. The
goal to tie came after a
controversial El Habbasi
penalty kick, just 40
seconds remained in the
game. "I don’t even know
what to say," a bewildered
fan said. The final score
was 3-3.
Coming off the LO
tie, and their next three
games against the
Milwaukie Mustangs,
Putnam Kingsmen and
the Lakeridge Pacers, West
Linn has a chance to put
their early season stumble
behind them.
"One of the most
impressive things about
this year's team is the high
level of their character,"
Wind Lothamer, Boys JVII
coach, said. "These guys
have worked hard to turn
this program around and it
really shows."