Coming off its first state championship since 2016, Lakeridge's boys soccer team has undergone a near complete makeover.
The Pacers graduated nine starters, including five Three Rivers League first-team selections, among them the league player of the year in center midfielder Rafa Loyo and their leading scorer in forward Mauricio Loyo (18 goals).
But that doesn't mean that Lakeridge – No. 2 in the OSAAtoday preseason 6A coaches poll – doesn't expect to make a run at defending its title. The new-look Pacers got started on the right foot Tuesday night, coming from behind in the last 15 minutes for a 2-1 win over visiting Summit, the reigning 5A champion.
Lakeridge coach Alan Cox called the opening win “a test of character.”
“It would've been easy to throw the toys out of the pram, and woe is me, but they didn't,” Cox said. “They dug deep, we made a few changes. They showed what they were capable of. It kind of proves that we can hang with anyone.”
Summit, No. 1 in the 5A coaches poll, struck first in the 30th minute when senior Gabe Lachman scored off an assist from senior KP Roskowski. The Storm, which played 6A No. 6 South Eugene to a scoreless draw in the season opener Friday, appeared ready to secure a big win.
But Lakeridge got the equalizer with 15 minutes left when junior Dominic Lemuz received a deep cross from junior Max Harris-Inman and looped a header over the goalkeeper, inside the back post.
The score stood 1-1 until the 77th minute, when Pacers freshman Jackson Romero took a through ball from junior Sarp Erdem and toe-poked it past the goalkeeper for a 2-1 lead. Romero got the game-winner in his first high school match.
“I put him on, told him to go make himself a hero, and he did,” Cox said.
Romero, the only freshman on Lakeridge's roster, is among the many young players that the Pacers are counting on this season.
“He's kind of been thrown into the deep end, but for good reason,” Cox said of the 5-foot-5 Romero. “He's tenacious, he's hard-working, and he's got a sense of where the goal's at. He kind of prove me right. He's smaller, but he makes up for it with a ton of pace. He plays like he's 6 feet.”
Lakeridge has experience in the back line with two returning starters in seniors Westley Watts (17 assists last season) and Lucas Waarvick. They have the versatility to play multiple positions, giving Cox lineup flexibility.
The Pacers lost their two all-league center midfielders in Rafa Loyo (nine goals) and Rollo Van Driesche (eight goals), Much responsibility will fall on senior Enzo Morse – “He'll be a star as long as he's fit and available,” Cox said – and sophomore Pablo Spilk.
Sophomore forward Liam Kutella, who scored seven goals as a freshman, is among the team's many options on the front line.
“We're kind of passing the baton to him to become one of the leaders because of the quality he has and the presence he has on the field,” Cox said of Kutella.
Sophomore Collin Cernitz and junior Olanda Tangkjaer, a transfer from Tualatin who is a training player with the Timbers Academy, shared time at goalkeeper Tuesday. They are vying to replace all-leaguer Dane Whipple.
“Last year we were pretty established with what we had, and this year we're not,” Cox said. “it's a nice new challenge. It's going to look young. But we've got a lot of talent.”
Nevada trip tests La Salle
La Salle Prep, No. 2 in the 5A coaches poll, was looking for a new kind of challenge when it traveled to Henderson, Nev., to open the season with two games on Labor Day weekend.
The trip turned out to be an eye-opener as the Falcons fell to nationally ranked Coronado 6-0 on Saturday and played Palo Verde to a scoreless tie Monday.
“Overall the two opponents gave us a brand, a speed of high school soccer, we don't see often, if ever, in Oregon,” La Salle Prep coach Monty Hawkins said. “Both opponents had a full complement of fast, technically skilled players ready to play in the 90-plus degree heat on the turf.”
The Falcons opened against reigning state champion Coronado, ranked No. 14 in the nation by United Soccer Coaches. The Cougars, who had outscored their foes 46-2 in winning their first seven matches, scored three goals in each half to win 6-0.
La Salle Prep fared much better against Palo Verde, last year's state runner-up. Senior goalkeeper Adam Clem recorded a shutout, making several one-on-one, point-blank saves, but the Falcons couldn't score, either, in the 0-0 draw.
“We responded well in the second match by being organized and disciplined,” Hawkins said. “Defensively, we were able to adjust to this faster speed of play. We created more chances to score than Palo Verde, and we were unlucky not to find the back of the net on a few opportunities.”
La Salle Prep plays host to Lakeridge on Thursday.
Stayton pulls through
Top-ranked Stayton got a goal from senior Noberto Navarro with 16.5 seconds left to overcome No. 5 Cottage Grove 3-2 in a 4A nonleague game Tuesday at Stayton.
Down 1-0 with 15 minutes left, the Eagles pulled even when junior Johnny Garcia drilled a shot from about 25 yards out. They took a 2-1 lead in the 68th minute when senior Addison Samuell scored.
Cottage Grove senior Hayes Valley made it 2-2 in the 70th minute, and it stayed that way until Navarro's game-winner.
“We need to have a high intensity and play calm through the middle of the field like we did in those last 15, just have control of the game,” Samuell said. “We've got to trust each other a little more, but that comes with time. We have a young team.”
The season opener was a battle of reigning league champions. Stayton defeated Cottage Grove 5-1 last season, but the Eagles lost in the first round of the state playoffs and the Lions went on to reach the final.
Tuesday's result marked the fourth consecutive season that Stayton has beaten Cottage Grove.
“It's a good way to test ourselves to start the season,” Valley said. “It’s always intense. We’re both rough teams, we both like to play physical, and so playing against them, it always gets a little chippy at the end, but it’s fun.”
– Jeremy McDonald contributed to this report
