Girls soccer: Rangers battle N. Marion, Gladstone
Estacada High School junior Kayla McCarty prepares to take over the ball from La Salle in a match against the Falcons last month. The Rangers varsity girls soccer team is currently ranked fifth in the 4A Special District 2. The Rangers play the Stayton Eagles at home today, Oct. 7, beginning at 6:30 p.m.
Evan Jensen / Estacada News
After opening the season with two victories, the Estacada girls soccer team has struggled and lost four straight after falling to North Marion and Gladstone last week.
“I have been impressed with how we have improved and how well we played against La Salle and Gladstone,” head coach Rick Mudrow said. “We are in the process of re-learning the game of soccer for these kids and are teaching them a lot of new stuff.”
Estacada was down 2-0 at halftime on Sept. 29 and battled back to tie the game before North Marion scored a late goal to take the victory.
“It was a disappointing loss for us because we felt we should have won that game,” Mudrow said. “It is something we will definitely have to deal with when they return and play here in late October.”
Mudrow said while the game was physical, he was impressed with the way his girls battled until the end.
“We could have very easily given up when we fell behind early, but the girls kept fighting and really stepped it up in the second half to get back in it.”
Against Gladstone on Oct. 1, Estacada struggled early and fell behind 3-0 at halftime before the girls turned it around in the second half. Defensively, the team slowed down Gladstone with a pressure defense and Ice McCarty scored mid-way through the second half for their loan goal.
“We were down early but the girls played a much stronger second half and when Ice scored it gave us a little spark,” Mudrow said. “The girls are battling and working hard and we are showing improvement every game.”
The girl’s team has been hit with injuries, starting three freshmen against Gladstone and had five starters who did not play in the game.
“Our major goal is to get the kids to improve every game and continuing to learn all the new stuff we are teaching them and getting stronger in the second half of the season.”