ONE LITTLE VICTORY; THE GREATEST THAT CAN BE (apologies to the rock band Rush)

Led by Sydney Greene's 3 three pointers in the first half and an angry, tenacious defense, the Lady Falcons managed to hold off a plucky but over matched Siuslaw squad 36-34 at Elmira High School, Tuesday January 22.  The win broke an 11 game losing streak and raised the Falcons' record to a humble 3-13.

Lady Falcons senior Sydney Greene fires a three point shot from above the key in Elmira's 36-34 victory over Siuslaw, Tuesday January 22.  Photo by Kimberly Lillie.

However, Elmira almost let the Lady Vikings off the hook.  At one time holding a comfortable 8 point lead in the third quarter, the Lady Falcons found Siuslaw cutting into the lead with the help of a back court press and tenacious play by Brea Blankenship and 5-9 Gracie Freudenthal.  Both teams suffered from poor shooting and sloppy ball handling.

Elmira's Eden Blunt slashes to the basket in the Lady Falcons 36-34 victory over Siuslaw, Tuesday, January 22 at Elmira High School.  Photo by Kimberly Lillie.

The key to victory however was clear.  When Maranda Hanson was on the floor, the Lady Vikings simply didn't have easy lanes to the rack, with sophomore center collecting 4 blocked shots on the evening and redirecting the several more.

Falcons front line players Maranda Hanson and Alexis White battle Siuslaw's Mia Corrine for a rebound in Elmira's 36-34 victory over the Lady Vikings, Tuesday, January 22.  Photo by Kimberly Lillie.

The win over lowly Siuslaw doesn't reconcile a difficult, injury plagued season, but it does get them in the win column and end that treacherous 11 game string of futility.  The Lady Falcons need to covet the feeling because their next endeavor will be daunting as they travel to Coos Bay to play the #1 ranked team in the state, Marshfield on Friday night.

Lady Falcons Come off the Deck to Swab Pirates

With the cacophony of 11 goals scored on them two nights before still resonating in their ears, the Elmira girls' soccer team came home Thursday night to the best present they could have asked for;  a winless Marshfield team still looking for their first win of the season.  

Showing, before unseen, ferocity, the Lady Falcons used a combination of midfield strength and a decided advantage in team speed to thump the Lady Pirates 4-1 in a injury shortened game Thursday October 4 at Swartz Field.  An unidentified Marshfield player was reported to have dislocated her knee and after the delay, the game was called.  

Elmira's Kennady Laing fires a goal past Marshfield goalkeeper Sabrina Thurman in the first half of the Falcons' 4-1 victory Thursday October 4 at Swartz Field.  Photo by Kimberly Lillie

With the exception of a defensive lapse when Marshfield's Khaley Aquliar broke through on a breakaway to register Marshfield's lone score, the remainder of the game was decidedly played at the other end of the field, where Kennady Laing and Clair Head made repeated assaults on the Lady Pirate's goal.  At the half, Elmira had already out shot Marshfield 15-3, unofficially.  Laing scored twice from point blank range in the first half to stake the Lady Falcons to a 2-0 lead.  

The Falcons' Maddie Wisner wins a battle for the ball in Elmira's 4-1 over Marshfield Thursday October 4 at Swartz Field.
Photo by Kimberly Lillie

In the second half, goals by Eden Blunt and Kaycee Monagon put the game out of reach of Marshfield.  Throughout the game, Elmira's superior strength in the middle continually propelled the Falcons ferocious attack leading to repeated sprints and open shots on the goal.  Head had 4 drives on goal that were near misses.  One was called an offside.  

Paige Reichenberger splits two Marshfield defenders as she rushes on goal in the Falcons' 4-1 win over the Lady Pirates, Thursday October 4 at Swartz Field.  Photo by Kimberly Lillie

The win raised the Lady Falcons' record to 4-4-1 (2-2), alone in second place in the Sky-Em Conference, while Marshfield fell to 0-9 (0-4).