The Siuslaw Vikings soccer teams came up short and shorthanded in season openers Thursday at Newport.

The varsity lost 8-0 and the junior varsity 9-1 in matches called by the eight-goal advantage late in the second half.

Siuslaw next plays its home opener, hosting Creswell at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Siuslaw High School field. The JV game is 4:30 p.m.

"I am really proud of the team for playing with heart and intensity and persevering through a tough situation," Siuslaw coach Londi Tomaro said of the varsity players.

"Not one player on the field gave up, and through their persistence and continued efforts they adapted to the situation and were able to create some goal-scoring opportunities of their own."

The Vikings played shorthanded most of the match following an unfortunate player ejection midway through the first half.

"We played a person short for approximately three-quarters of the game because our goalkeeper, Kayden Lane, accidentally tripped a player in front of the goal while trying to grab the ball," Tomaro said

"Although it was an unlucky play, it was an automatic red card ejection because it denied an obvious goal scoring opportunity — DOGSO in soccer speak."

She could not fault the effort despite the outcome.

"Every player got minutes and contributed to the match," Tomaro said. "Although we did not score and the game ended 0-8, we did get several good chances, especially in the second half."

The junior varsity started its match at a disadvantage.

"With only nine players having the required five practices our JV team played a difficult short-handed game," Tomaro said. "For the most part the team played well together, getting chances on goal despite the lopsided scoring."

She still saw much to like.

"There is a lot of good potential on the team," Tomaro said. "We are excited to see them develop individually and as a unit as more players become eligible to participate in games."

Freshman forward Landon Curley scored for the Vikings JV.

NOTES

Siuslaw and Creswell will be in the same 3A league next school year based on the first draft of the by the Classification and Districting Committee of the Oregon School Activities Association. Other members of the six-school league would include Harrisburg, La Pine, Pleasant Hill and Santiam Christian. ...

Elsewhere in the Sky-Em League:

• Junction City played a jamboree match Thursday at Philomath.
• Marshfield and Cottage Grove are at Phoenix today (Friday, Aug. 27) for a jamboree.
• Marist opens its season Monday, hosting Catlin Gable. Marist is ranked No. 3 in 4A in the OSAAtoday preseason poll.
• Elmira hosts Pleasant Hill on Wednesday in its season opener.

SIUSLAW VARSITY SCHEDULE
Thursday, Aug. 26 — at Newport 8, Siuslaw 0
Wednesday, Sept. 1 — Creswell, 6:30 p.m.
Monday, Sept. 6 — at North Bend, 6 p.m.
Thursday, Sept. 16 — Pleasant Hill, 6:30 p.m.
Monday, Sept. 20 — at Marist, 6:30 p.m.
Wednesday, Sept. 22 — Marshfield, 6:30 p.m.
Monday, Sept. 27 — at Junction City, 6:30 p.m.
Wednesday, Sept. 29 — at Elmira, 6:30 p.m.
Monday, Oct. 4 — Cottage Grove, 6:30 p.m.
Wednesday, Oct. 6 — Marist, 6:30 p.m.
Monday, Oct. 11 — at Marshfield, 6:30 p.m.
Wednesday, Oct. 13 — Junction City, 6:30 p.m.
Monday, Oct. 18 — Elmira, 6:30 p.m.
Wednesday, Oct. 20 — at Cottage Grove, 6:30 p.m.

VARSITY ROSTER
Seniors
Jerrel Brumley, defender
Kayden Lane, goalkeeper/midfielder
Kassandra Dietrich, defender
Imanol Pelayo, midfielder/forward
Dante Galli, forward/goalkeeper
Jason Garcia, midfielder
Juniors
Noel Hernandez, midfielder
Lucian Murphy, defender
Alex Goss, defender
Sophomores
Derrick Vanduch, forward/goalkeeper
Dylan Jensen, forward
Brayden Linton, midfielder/defender
Eli Tattershall, midfielder
Braxton Hule, forward
Freshmen
Ray Brito Xilot, midfielder

JV ROSTER
Sophomores
Nick W-Terrebrood, defender
Ethan Jagoe, midfielder/forward
Taylor Spencer forward
Freshmen
Landon Curley, forward
Chuck Nelson, forward
Sawyer Larson
Nicholas May, forward
Sylas Gorder goalkeeper/defender
Brandon Jagoe, goalkeeper/forward
Berkley Tregoning, defender
Aidan Murphy, defender/midfielder