Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Seaside signal. (Seaside, Or.) 1905-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 5, 2021)
A8 FRIDAY November 5, 2021 Fall Sports SeasideSignal.com Gulls lose to Estacada in play-in qualifier The Astorian Scott Stoddard/Grants Pass Daily Courier Seaside’s Anthony Peon, left, and Hidden Valley’s Ronan Hodge battle for the ball in last Saturday’s play-in game. After 99 minutes and 23 seconds of soccer in the rain — plus one lights-out delay — a win- ner was finally decided in a state play-in quali- fier at Broadway Field, where Seaside was host- ing Estacada in 4A girls soccer action last Thurs- day night. Estacada senior Katie Willis scored with just 37 seconds left in the second 10-minute overtime ses- sion, sending the Rang- ers past the Gulls, 1-0. The contest included a 20-minute delay in the second half when the lights went out at Broadway. Even in the light, shots on goal were hard to come by for both even- ly-matched teams. Sea- side finished 7-7-1 over- all, while Estacada (7-6-2) moved on to the round of 16. Estacada’s first shot on goal came in the 26th minute of the first half, also by Willis. Willis had a one-on-one in the 30th minute with Sea- side freshman goalkeeper Abygale Brien, who stopped the attempt. Brien would make sev- eral more saves, includ- ing two by Willis in the second half of regulation and two in the first 10 minutes of overtime. The Gulls were equally unlucky on offense, with a pair of attempts by Emma Arden in the second half stopped by Ranger goal- keeper Hannah Lake, and additional shots by Arden and freshman Kaylee Snyder in overtime were saved. Willis was fouled just outside the 18-yard box with a minute remain- ing in the second half of overtime, and her free kick from 19-yards out was deflected by Brien off the left post and into the net with 37 seconds left. The Gulls carried nine seniors on their roster, along with eight fresh- men. Seaside was also the only Cowapa League team with a junior varsity squad this season. After building early lead, Hidden Valley stifles Seaside The Astorian Hidden Valley scored for an early lead, then tacked on two second half goals for a 3-0 win last Saturday after- noon over Seaside in a 4A boys soccer state qualifier play-in game. The Gulls finish 5-7-1 overall, while the No. 8-ranked Mustangs (10-4) advance to the round of 16, where they were set to play at Marshfield. Hidden Valley had three goals wiped out by offsides penalties, but dominated both time of possession and shots on goal, as Seaside finished with just one shot attempt for the game. Leading 1-0 at halftime, the Mustangs increased their lead to 2-nil in the 12th min- ute of the second half, as sophomore Mason Klipfel scored from close range in front of the net, off passes from Roman Hodge and Theo Bergman. Seaside goalkeeper Riley Wunderlich had several big saves in goal to keep the Gulls within striking dis- tance, but Hidden Valley’s Joaquin Martinez made it 3-0 with just 2:45 left, scor- ing at the left post off a crossing pass from Conner Wright. Jeff TerHar The Lady Gulls on the pitch against Astoria on Oct. 19. Gulls conclude season with tough defensive battle at Astoria By GARY HENLEY The Astorian From Week 1 to Week 9, the 2021 fall sea- son has been a reversal of fortunes for both the Astoria and Seaside football programs. The regular season portion was capped last Friday night at CMH Field, where the Fish- ermen scored a 7-0 win over the Gulls, their second Clatsop Clash victory of the year. Astoria senior Colton McMaster caught a 23-yard pass from Rocky Rub late in the sec- ond quarter for the first and only score. The touchdown held up, and the Fishermen move on to the post-season, where Astoria will play at No. 2 seed Cascade on Friday at 6 p.m. “I’m sure we’ll feel good when we show up to school on Monday and realize we’re still playing,” said Astoria coach Howard Rub, who moved his career Clatsop Clash record to 14 wins, eight losses. In an up and down year for both teams, Seaside began the season with three wins in its first four games, by scores of 55-0, 48-0 and 69-0. But injuries gradually kicked in, and the Gulls finished the year on a three-game los- ing skid, being outscored 73-3 in losses to Banks, Tillamook and Astoria. Meanwhile, the Fishermen started 0-3 in league play, but eventually got healthy and posted wins over Valley Catholic and the Gulls. Astoria needed to defeat Seaside by at least two points in Friday’s game, in order to break a three-way tie in the league standings with Milwaukie and Seaside, all at 2-3. Friday’s 7-0 final score was also the third straight shutout in the Clatsop Clash, follow- ing Seaside’s 8-0 win in 2019 and Astoria’s 8-0 victory last spring. “I guess you can’t expect a lot of fireworks when we play each other,” Rub said of the Clash. “A lot of it has to do with how familiar we are with each other’s programs.” And Friday’s game “became a real conser- vative game with the play-calling.” Astoria’s Luke Cummings was the lead- ing rusher (68 yards), but averaged just 3.5 per carry. Late in the game, Rub called Cum- mings’ number in consecutive direct-snap plays to the junior running back. “I thought going with Luke was our best option, and we were able to control the time,” he said. “That (Wildcat formation) was really the best formation we had that gave us a chance to control the ball, and play three yards-and-a-cloud-of-dust football. It got very conservative, but it worked.” In fact, the Fishermen had just three pos- sessions the entire second half, to Seaside’s two. Astoria had a 13-play drive midway through the second half that resulted in a punt. Doing the punting was McMaster, whose Senior Night introduction included the announcement that he would attend Dart- mouth College in New Hampshire. McMaster had two 42-yard punts and a 46-yarder, pinning the Gulls at their own 15- and eight-yard lines. The other big Astoria plays came on defense. Cummings intercepted a pass late in the first half at the Fishermen 5-yard line. In the second half, Seaside’s best drive started at its own eight, and ended 11 plays later at the Astoria 6, an interception by Jase Junes. Another big defensive play came on a sec- ond-and-long for Seaside late in the fourth quarter, when Astoria lineman Will Hofmann tackled a ball carrier for a seven-yard loss, essentially ending the drive. Lawson Talamantez had 56 yards rushing for the Gulls, but three of their five ball carri- ers finished with minus-yards rushing. “The two interceptions were huge plays,” Rub said. “(The Gulls) felt compelled to throw the ball at the end of the first half, and Luke made a great play to keep his feet in bounds. And Jase’s interception was big, when Seaside had a first-and-goal inside our 10. We made a big push up front and made Carson (Kawasoe) threw a ball he might not normally have thrown. And Jase came off the receiver real well to make the interception.” Rub added, “we benefitted from having Tucker Golightly back in the lineup on both sides of the ball. Up front, we controlled the line of scrimmage, and that was big. Both of our sophomores played well — Matt Evans and Will Hofmann.” Because of injuries to the Gulls, “Sea- side obviously did not have the same offen- sive line they had back in August,” Rub said. “They were decimated by some injuries and down some starters.” And “the rest of our linemen played well. Aiden Giles, Sven Johnson (both juniors) and Wes Ellison all had great games.” McMaster’s touchdown “was the offen- sive play of the night,” he said. “And his punts backing Seaside up in their own end was big, because we knew that special teams were going to play a big part. “It was a great crowd,” Rub said. “It’s always fun to see the youth football kids play at halftime. The student section was great … other than me wearing a mask, it felt like everything was back to normal.” BRIEFS Aquatics coordinator honored for excellence Sunset Empire Park and Recreation Dis- trict Aquatics Coordinator Lindsey Wolfe was recently honored with the Excellence in Programming Award from the Oregon Recreation and Park Association. Wolfe has worked for the park district for seven years, starting as a lifeguard and swim Lindsey Wolfe instructor. She is also a volunteer firefighter with the Gearhart Fire Department and spends her summers fighting fires in Oregon and California. Turkey Trot, Thanksgiving dinner ahead Seaside Signal Beaches and Breakers hold pickleball tournament The Sunset Empire Park and Recreation District is host- ing the Beaches and Breakers Pickleball Classic Nov. 12 through Nov. 14 at the Sunset Recreation Center. This is a skill and age round-robin tournament with a shootout of the top three or four teams for gold, silver and bronze medals. The tournament is managed in partnership with Pickle- ball is Great, an organization dedicated to the sport. Participants can register at https://pickleballisgreat. com/beaches-and-breakers-pickleball-classic/. Sunset Empire Park and Recreation District Aiden and Elliot Ousley, among volunteers at last year’s Thanksgiving dinner. Join the Sunset Empire Park and Recreation District for the annual Turkey Trot, a 5K fun run/walk held on Thanksgiving morning. The race starts at 9 a.m. from Quatat Park and follows a route through Seaside. Check-in begins at 8 a.m.; patrons are encouraged to pre-regis- ter. Admission is $30 and includes a t-shirt. Call 503-738-3311 to reserve your spot. In following guidelines from the Oregon Health Authority, patrons are asked to wear masks when social distancing is not possible, including before and after the race. After the Turkey Trot, join the park district from noon to 2 p.m. for a free Thanksgiving meal to go at the Bob Chisholm Community Center. Help- ing Hands Reentry Outreach Center R.J. Marx Seaside’s Alex Van Slyke ran the 2019 Turkey Trot carrying the flag. is partnering with the district to pro- vide pre-packaged meals for the com- munity. Registration is not required for this first-come, first-served meal. To serve as a sponsor or volunteer for these events, email Melissa Ous- ley at mousley@sunsetempire.com.