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Phoenix downs Hidden Valley Mail Tribune / Drew Fleming Phoenix�s Devin Wilson heads the ball in the direction of the goal in Thursday�s game. The senior forward scored a goal for the Pirates in their Skyline Conference victory. The Pirates use what has become a formidable advantage at home toknock off the defending state champ and No. 1 Mustangs By TIM PYLE TALENT � Hagler-James Park doesn�t look like the kind of venue visiting teams would fear. At 75 x 120 feet, the varsity soccer field is one of Oregon�s largest, according to Phoenix boys coach Dennis Flenner, and it is framed by picturesque mountain peaks. The occasional truck whizzes by on Colver Road behind the north goal, and fans casually arrange themselves among wooden bleachers and picnic tables on the west side. But the appeasing country setting belies Hagler-James� affect on the Pirates and their competition. Defending Class 3A state champion Hidden Valley can attest to that. The Mustangs entered Thursday�s District 6 clash unbeaten and ranked No. 1 in the state but left a 4-2 loser, yet another victim in Phoenix�s home winning streak that dates back to October of 1998. For Flenner and the No. 7 Pirates, now tied with Hidden Valley atop the district standings, there is indeed no place like Hagler-James. "I may have given up a little jamboree game or something, but no league games, no preseason games, no state-playoff games," Flenner said of Phoenix�s home streak. "We don�t lose at home." The Pirates (7-1, Dist. 6) made sure of that by taking a 1-0 lead five minutes into Thursday�s match and never letting up. Senior central midfielder John Hendricks knocked home the first goal on a penalty kick and kept the pressure on HV all 80 minutes with a dazzling display of speed, skill and power. His hell-bent dribbling attacks created most of Phoenix�s threats, none more effective than the sprint and dish that led to senior forward Gerardo Serna�s goal and a 3-1 Pirates lead about eight minutes into the second half. "He is the man," Flenner said of Hendricks. Serna�s tally answered the Mustangs� goal from five minutes before, finished by senior midfielder Mosiah Arteaga after assisting work from senior left midfielder Rem Evert and senior central midfielder Irie Spann. In the first meeting between the two teams � a 3-0 HV home win Sept. 11 � Hendricks played forward and was contained by a double-teaming Mustangs� defense that denied him the ball. There was no keeping him from the ball Thursday in the midfield. "Hendricks sees the field so well," said sixth-year HV coach Charlie Seal, who was given consecutive yellow cards and ejected late in the first half. "I think that was a good move (putting Hendricks at center mid) by Dennis." Phoenix�s second first-half goal came courtesy of sophomore midfielder John Feeney�s left-footed finish off a slick pass from senior midfielder David Peterson. And it became 4-1 in the 75th minute on senior forward Devin Wilson�s one-time completion � just before a collision with Mustangs senior goalkeeper Tim VanderStoel � of a play that started with junior stopper Chris Swann�s through pass. HV pulled within 4-2 in the final minute on Arteaga�s header. Junior forward Dillon Borta used his own head to find Arteaga at the far post, and Spann�s dead-ball cross started the sequence. The Mustangs are 7-1 overall and in league. The Pirates were buoyed by the defensive presence of senior sweeper Al Albright, who missed the first Phoenix-HV battle. Both coaches believe a tiebreaking third Pirates-Mustangs clash could be coming later this month. That would be necessary if they remain tied atop the District 6 standings. Reach reporter Tim Pyle at 776-4483 or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.