For the better part of the past decade, North Eugene has flirted with winning its first state championship, only to have promising seasons end in crushing disappointment.
Since 2017, the Highlanders have lost in the 5A semifinals three times and the final twice. Last year, they took the No. 2 seed into the playoffs but fell to Bend in a penalty-kick shootout in the quarterfinals.
“That was very nightmarish,” coach Brandy Wormdahl said.
But with eight starters back from that team, including a two-time all-state midfielder in junior Payton Buschelman, North Eugene has renewed hope this season. The Highlanders, No. 2 in the OSAAtoday 5A coaches poll, are off to a 6-0 start, outscoring their opponents 22-1.
Is this the year they finally get over the top?
“It's kind of that unspoken goal they have,” Wormdahl said. “They definitely have all the pieces to play with anybody in the state. You've got to have a little bit of luck on your side, and you've got to stay healthy. Those will be the biggest factors.”
North Eugene won 2-1 at 4A No. 1 Marist Catholic, the reigning state champion, on Sept. 4. The Highlanders also have two impressive road wins over 5A teams, beating No. 5 Summit 2-0 on Sept. 8 and No. 6 Canby 4-0 on Sept. 18.
They showed their resilience in the win over Summit. Their team bus broke down, forcing them to wait for another bus to pick them up. When they got to Summit, the start of the game was delayed due to thunderstorms. They had 10 minutes to warm up.
“They figured out a way to win that game,” Wormdahl said. “I was impressed with how they navigated that.”
Wormdahl credited the leadership of Buschelman.
“She's like, 'Whatever they throw at us, let's go, we're going to be fine,'” Wormdahl said. “The rest of the kids just go, 'OK.' They don't feel the pressure, I guess. They definitely have the right demeanor to make a good run at things.”
Buschelman, who led North Eugene with 22 goals and 11 assists last season, has a team-high eight goals and three assists. Her energy is infectious.
“Sometimes I throw her up front if we aren't generating scoring chances, or if we need to create a little more havoc in the other team's back line,” Wormdahl said. “I put her up front against Marist and it was kind of the difference in giving us a little bit more spark up top.”
Senior forward Lauren Efraimson, a 5A second-team pick in 2024, combines with Buschelman and sophomore Camden Dewitt (six goals, three assists) to keep foes on their heels.
“Those three are a lot to handle for any team we play, when those three are clicking and working well together,” Wormdahl said.
Zari Thomas, who led the team in scoring as a freshman in 2023 and made the 5A second team, is back after missing the 2024 regular season with a torn ACL. She has moved to the back line, where she is integral in keeping the heat off junior goalkeeper Riley Hosek, a transfer from Churchill.
“Zari can cover a lot of ground,” Wormdahl said. “She's just a really athletic kid. She eliminates a lot of shots.”
The defense, which features two fourth-year varsity players in Jayla Leata and Madeline Brewster, has been outstanding. The Highlanders expect to get a boost soon with the return of senior Malia Banry, a starter at center back since her freshman year who has mended from a torn ACL.
“If I can get her back, and throw Zari up front, I think we might look completely different in a couple weeks,” Wormdahl said.
Highlights from around the state:
Zoie Velander's goal in the 16th minute lifted Lake Oswego over 6A No. 2 Grant 1-0 on Sept. 22 at Providence Park. Karina Swartz recorded 12 saves in the second half to secure the shutout for the Lakers. … Sandy (6-0) is off to its best start in school history behind freshman Jamela Turin, who has scored 10 of the team's 19 goals. She had her second hat trick of the season Sept. 22 as the Pioneers went on the road to top Dallas/Perrydale 4-0. She converted a header to help Sandy turn back visiting Sherwood on Sept. 24. … Kate Parker scored twice and Olivia Hays had a goal and an assist as 6A No. 4 Beaverton won at 5A No. 1 Wilsonville 3-1 on Sept. 22. …
Valley Catholic, ranked No. 1 in the 3A/2A/1A, came from behind in the second half to defeat 4A No. 2 Scappoose 3-2 on the road Sept. 18. Down 2-1 at halftime, the Valiants pulled even on a goal by Luci Rakers and got the game-winner from Haven Zaw-Tun with 15 minutes left. Calista Everson struck in the first half for Valley Catholic. … No. 5 Amity won at Valley Catholic 2-0 in a 3A/2A/1A showdown Sept. 23, getting goals from Haley Miersma and Eliza Nisly. …
No. 7 Oregon Episcopal rolled to a 4-0 home win over No. 2 Catlin Gabel in a key 3A/2A/1A Special District 1 match on Sept. 26. Cassidy Paulson had two goals and Jane Qu and Addie Paulson added single goals for the Aardvarks, who got four assists from Mischa Aginsky. The win avenged a 1-0 loss at Catlin Gabel on Sept. 19. … Shelby Blanchet helped Echo/Stanfield stay unbeaten, scoring six goals in a 9-1 win at Grant Union on Sept. 23 and producing the equalizer in the middle of the second half in a 1-1 tie at Riverside on Sept. 27. …
Freshman Julieta Mendoza got the game-winner early in the second half as Riverside went on the road to edge Pendleton 3-2 on Sept 25. … Alysha Law scored her first two goals of the season to spark Salem Academy to a 3-0 home win over Western Christian on Sept. 25. The previous game, she assisted the game's only goal as Salem Academy downed visiting Gervais/Kennedy 1-0. … Brookings-Harbor, ranked No. 6 in 3A/2A/1A, has outscored its opponents 53-1 in a 7-0 start. Sophomore Sawyer Adams has two hat tricks.
jerryu@osaa.org
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