Wolverines add conference win, non-conference loss

Wolverine varsity soccer goaltender Diego Delgadillo’s 16 saves, recorded in the Monday, Sept. 26 non-conference matchup against McLoughlin High School, is a good indicator of the offensive strength of the Pioneers in their 5-0 win over the Wolverines.

 McLoughlin scored two goals in the first half, and three in the second.

 Located in Milton-Freewater, Ore., McLoughlin and Weiser split the difference in the distance between them, meeting for the first time in Baker City. 

 In the 80-minute challenge, the Wolverines found a well-conditioned opponent in the Pioneers, whose defense proved as robust as its offense. Weiser got off just three shots in the game, and one shot on goal by senior midfielder Brian Munoz #8.

 McLoughlin’s varsity is ranked fifth out of 65 teams in the Oregon School Activities Association Class 3A/2A/1A standings, with 37 total goals scored this season, so far, and only three goals allowed.

 Weiser’s junior varsity team defeated the Pioneers 2-1 in earlier action. Thayn Blanchard scored both goals for Weiser.

Weiser 2, Payette 0

 The Wolverines moved their conference record to 5-1 on Tuesday, Sept. 27, with a 2-0 win over Payette on the Pirates home turf.

 In the first half, the Pirates tested Weiser’s defense over and over, with Wolverine midfielders making steals and defenders blocking their path to the goal box. In the box, Delgadillo made a game total of five saves in Tuesday’s outing.

 Payette’s goalkeeper was in position to save several shots on goal. Weiser made hay when the Pirate goalie went to the ground to stop a shot by Alex Magana #1. The ball bounced out of his grip, and Magana kicked it at least twice more, bouncing it off the downed keeper and back into a mix of Weiser forwards and Payette defenders. Wolverine Danny Clemmer #15 put his foot on it, sending the ball over the goalie and into the back of the net to close out the half with Weiser up 1-0.

 During the second half, the Wolverines controlled the ball offensively for a large part of the 40 minutes, but not without the Pirates putting up a good defensive effort.

 With 14 minutes left on the clock, Magana and Clemmer moved up close, connecting again for Weiser’s second score in the game and the 2-0 conference win.

 Junior midfielder Toren Walker said he feels like the team found their rhythm in the second half.

 “We started passing and playing better,” Walker said. “We figured out how to play well together against this team.”

 Coach Kathy Bokides agreed.

 “All season we’ve been working at getting the ball up and over,” she said. “Today they were passing on the ground, and moved in with the up-and-over on the finish.”

 In earlier JV action, the Wolverines defeated the Pirates 6-1. Scoring for Weiser were Dauge McClellan and Brayden Nordgren with two apiece. Cruz Meza and Edgar Ramirez both scored one apiece. 

 The Wolverines will travel to McCall on Thursday, Oct. 6, where both varsity and JV will wrap up regular season play. District III playoffs are set for Oct. 11 and 13.