Document text
PREP ROUNDUP: North slips by Crater By Kris Henry Updated: Aug 30, 2022 10:28 PM A A 6 View all photos Boger goal boosts Black Tornado despite stellar showing by Comets goalkeeper Vranes Shot after shot, North Medford kept hoping the next effort would be the one to get past Crater junior goalkeeper Addison Vranes. Shot after shot, the Black Tornado girls soccer team was denied during Tuesday’s season opener against the visiting Comets at Bowerman Field. But in the final minute of the first half, in seemingly innocent fashion, North Medford was finally able to see its determined pressure pay off on a goal by Olivia Boger that sent her team toward a 1-0 triumph. “They really do have a good goalie, that’s for sure,” said second-year Black Tornado head coach Morgan Barry, whose team recorded 18 shots on goal in the nonleague matchup. Boger, one of North’s leading scoring threats from a year ago, found herself in the right place at the right time as she ran onto a long throw-in by senior Margaret Hamlin. As Vranes approached with arms extended, the sophomore Boger was able to get a knee on the ball that sent it just out of the Crater junior’s reach and across the goal line for the pivotal finish. “She was one of the targets getting thrown to the ball and she just happened to be there and put it in,” said Barry. “I think that really boosted the girls’ confidence going into halftime and helped us kind of play the way we really play going into the second half.” A majority of play in the second half was spent in Crater’s end of the field, with Vranes and a defense spearheaded by junior Harrisen Poe and sophomore Addison Dippel doing all they can to withstand a flurry of activity by the Tornado (1-0). “It just wasn’t our day; it definitely was a battle,” said Crater head coach Bryton Kiger. “The fact is we just didn’t deserve to win today, we weren’t the better team. We held off tremendous pressure from North Medford. They’re a great team and they just outplayed us today, there’s not really any other way to put it. Kudos to Morgan, she’s done a great job.” Barry said the bulk of preseason preparations have been on ironing out things on the defensive end, and that showed Tuesday as North was able to stifle some promising attacks by freshman Britney Galleher up top with the help of a pair of freshman center backs in Ava Markiewicz and Brycelin Endrikat. Offensively, Boger and junior Alia Villa put forth a host of shots on goal, with sophomore center midfielder Payton Miller helping stir the pot, but the Tornado couldn’t quite crack the conundrum that was Vranes. “We had plenty of shots on goal, we just couldn’t get it past their goalkeeper,” said Barry. “We pretty much dominated, we just could not finish.” The game itself was up in the air, quite literally, for most of the day as air quality issues brought on by nearby fires threatened the match. “The girls actually came out ready to play and I was happy with that,” said Barry. “We were kind of hesitant with the smoke and everything and even thought waking up this morning that we weren’t going to have a game. But I told the girls let’s act like we’re going to play and we got to play and they did a good job with it all.” The Comets, coming off a 1-all tie with Roseburg, moved to 0-1-1. Boys Soccer NORTH MEDFORD 1, PHOENIX 0: At Phoenix, Jesus Duarte swung a pass with about 10 minutes remaining over to Kobe Ibarra, who drove the ball into the upper corner of the goal from 20 yards out to help North Medford capture a victory in the regular season debut for both teams. Center back Colson Rumrey led the way in anchoring the stellar Black Tornado defense, which kept Phoenix from getting off many quality scoring opportunities in an all-around scrappy match. The Pirates dropped to 0-1 on the season. Volleyball NORTH MEDFORD 3, CASCADE CHRISTIAN 1: North Medford sophomore Makenzee Running supplied seven kills and nine digs and freshman Kristina Atonio had seven kills as well in a 25-21, 25-20, 22-25, 25-22 victory. Amy Kloek added 12 digs, Ria Atonio had six aces and Maddie Blake doled out 19 assists to lead the host Black Tornado (2-1), who had seven team blocks during a well-played battle with Cascade Christian (1-2). EAGLE POINT 3, PHOENIX 1: At Eagle Point, sophomore outside hitter Addison Holcomb had a double-double with 16 kills and 12 digs and junior Emma Kness added six kills and 15 digs to help power Eagle Point to a 25-7, 25-7, 20-25, 25-23 triumph. Abby Trautman contributed five kills and 14 digs, Baylee Mullen had seven kills, Makynlee Schauffler posted seven digs and 27 assists and Jaylinn Holte had 17 digs to lead the Eagles. HENLEY 3, ST. MARY’S 2: At Klamath Falls, St. Mary’s senior Kelsey Dunn sparked her team with 15 kills — seven in the fourth set — and senior Kaitlyn Hansen doled out 31 assists but the Crusaders were unable to complete a comeback against Henley. The Hornets won 20-25, 25-11, 25-14, 17-25, 15-7. Senior Sydney Alexander served nine straight points to essentially close out the Hornets and force a deciding fifth set, in which the Hornets opened an 8-3 lead and held on for the win. Alexander was 20-for-22 from the service line, while Emma Johnston was 12-for-12 with six kills and 26 digs and Albie Borovansky had 24 digs. ROGUE VALLEY ADVENTIST 3, DAYS CREEK 0: Senior Michaela Porter reeled off four aces in a row during a six-point run in the final set as host Rogue Valley Adventist sealed a 25-12, 25-17, 25-9 season-opening sweep of Days Creek. Senior middle hitter Emma Bischoff racked up 11 kills, six blocks and four aces for the Red Tail Hawks (1-0), who were also helped by senior setter Destinee Quattrocelli’s 24 assists and four aces. Porter totaled five aces in all to go with three blocks. Andy Atkinson / Mail tribuneNorth Medford's Olivia Boger celebrates with teammates after scoring in the final seconds of the first half in Medford Tuesday. Andy Atkinson / Mail tribuneNorth Medford's Isabella Driskell takes the ball away from Crater's Autumn Jackson during the first half in Medford Tuesday. Andy Atkinson / Mail TribuneNorth Medford's Alia Villa stops the ball from Crater's Maddy Ritchey during the first half in Medford Tuesday. Andy Atkinson / Mail tribuneNorth Medford's Olivia Boger collides with Crater goalkeeper Addison Vranes to score during the final seconds of the first half in Medford Tuesday. Andy Atkinson / Mail tribuneNorth Medford's Olivia Boger dribbles the ball around Crater's Kelsey Sakraida during the first half in Medford Tuesday. Andy Atkinson / Mail tribuneNorth Medford's Lily Shields runs down a pass against Crater during the first half in Medford Tuesday.