Document text
PREP ROUNDUP: Crater boys, girls open with ties By Mail Tribune staff Updated: Aug 27, 2022 08:23 PM A A 3 View all photos ROSEBURG — A year ago, the Crater boys soccer team didn’t leave the field all that satisfied after being doubled up by Roseburg in its season opener on the road. On Saturday, the feeling was vastly different after the Comets played well throughout and settled for a 2-2 tie against the host Indians. The mood might have been even better had Crater not gotten a little unlucky on a pair of Roseburg set pieces where the ball rattled around the box a little before twice being poked into the goal, once in the 16th minute and another in the 60th. In each case Crater had an answer, and the tying goals came from opposite extremes when it came to varsity experience. In the 38th minute, Crater countered with a goal just before halftime when senior Cooper Hopkins sent a crossing pass to his freshman brother Tucker Hopkins, who banged in the Comets’ first tally. When Crater found itself down 2-1 in the second half, senior midfielder Jesse Ruvalcaba dribbled down the sideline and lofted a cross to the middle for another freshman in Lucas Chacon, whose volley from about 25 yards out tied the match. “It was a beautiful shot because it was just so nonchalant,” Crater coach Jason Tester said. “It just floated over and he waited and then just rocketed it into the net.” Crater pushed hard over the final six minutes for a potential go-ahead goal but couldn’t quite capitalize. Still, it was a positive showing for the team’s overall chemistry. “We had two goals from two freshmen making their debut and both were set up by seniors,” Tester said, “so that’s pretty good.” Goalkeeper Diego Estrada was pressed mostly in the early going of the second half, where he fielded about five solid saves for the Comets. Girls Soccer SOUTH MEDFORD 4, BEND 3: South Medford junior Samantha Gallardo scored on a header following a corner kick from sophomore Tyler Hampson to break a 3-all tie in the 76th minute and clinch the season opener for the Panthers at South Medford High. Bend (0-2) scored 90 seconds into the match on an own goal following some confusion in the box but South Medford (1-0) roared right back with a goal in the eighth minute by Gallardo on a nice combination play from Pheona Riddle. Jordan Welsh gave Bend a 2-1 lead in the 13th minute but South again had an answer, with Riddle cleaning up a deflected shot by Marayah Barajas in the 24th minute and then Avery Zahniser converting a nice through ball by Brooke Fairbanks in the 28th. The Lava Bears scored from about 40 yards out to tie the match in the 66th minute. When senior Eve Lynx fell ill about an hour before the game, freshman McKayla Jordan got the start in goal for South and was aided by a strong backline effort from Hampson, Lexie Clark, Selena Marmon, Sarah Gaut and Lexie Maukonen. CRATER 1, ROSEBURG 1: At Central Point, Roseburg scored four minutes into the second half but Crater kept battling and finally tallied an equalizer in the final five minutes of play at Dutch Meyer Field. Emma Bohn got the late surge started with an upfield run before sliding a pass through the back line that was run onto by Ella Heppner and clinically deposited into the far corner on a ground shot past Roseburg goalie Amy Carpenter. Kelsey Sakraida helped spark the Comet defense with a stellar effort at outside back, while goalkeeper Addison Vranes kept a clean sheet in the first half before giving way to Clio Andries in the second. Volleyball CASCADE CHRISTIAN SPLITS: Host Cascade Christian was able to make a few corrections to push past Vale, 3-1, in its first match of the season but serving woes and unforced errors by the Challengers caught up with them in a 3-1 loss to Salem Academy to end the twin bill at Cascade Christian High. Cascade Christian (1-1) beat Vale 21-25, 25-19, 25-22, 25-18 before Salem Academy won in another four-setter 25-18, 23-25, 25-19, 25-19. Sophomore opposite hitter Poppy Freeman notched 21 kills in each match for the Challengers and put down four aces against Vale. Madison Todd, a junior outside hitter, supplied 16 kills against Vale and 10 against Salem Academy, while junior setter Molly Griffin had 37 assists versus the Vikings and 33 later against the Crusaders. Senior Ellie Harrington had six aces against Salem Academy, which trailed 10-1 in the third set but rallied to take control. The Challengers had 14 missed serves and a few untimely errors against the Crusaders. Crater's Kelsey Sakraida (2) works to win the ball from Roseburg's Corinne Childers (18). Photo courtesy of Jeremiah Cordle Roseburg's Savannah Sanders (15) pressures Crater's Ella Heppner (3) in the second half. Photo courtesy of Jeremiah Cordle volleyball.jpg