Sophomore forwards Nicholas May and Charles Nelson scored Thursday to lead the Siuslaw Vikings boys soccer team to a season-opening 2-1 victory over Sweet Home at Hans Petersen Memorial Field.

The Vikings next play at 7 p.m. Thursday at Junction City.

"It was really great to play in the stadium and hear the crowd cheering from the grandstand across the field," Siuslaw coach Londi Tomaro said.

"A little extra emotion penetrated through my game adrenaline because of it all."

Nelson snapped a 1-1 halftime standoff with the only score of the second half, completing a half-field play initiated by junior midfielder Ethan Jagoe and assisted by freshman midfielder-forward Kale Jensen.

May capped a strong passing combination by the Vikings to score the game's first goal midway through the first half.

The Huskies had only two shots on goal in the first half but one found the net late to forge a 1-1 tie.

"They capitalized on a through-ball breakaway and a goalkeeper error to even the score late in the first half," Tomaro said.

The Vikings had 12 shots on goal in the first half, including three by Nelson and two each by May and senior midfielder Yoskar De la Mora.

"We controlled the ball for most of the first half," Tomaro said. "Our players started the game with evident nerves, but held their own while they settled into the game."

The second was more evenly played, each team placing five shots on goal.

"Our goalkeeper, (junior) Derrick Vanduch, with the help of the defensive line, saved every scoring opportunity by Sweet Home," Tomaro said.

"Our team was visibly more tired in the second half, but continued to put together passing plays and working the ball up the field."

The outcome left the Vikings coach more than happy with the team's play.

"All our team members played with a team mentality, looking for passes and openings, setting each other up for plays," Tomaro said. "I was impressed with so many of them today.

"Of note, (sophomore) Landon Curley is normally an attacking player, but he played a phenomenal game at defense. Without his dominant play we would have easily lost this game."

NOTES

Siuslaw is playing the season as a co-op, with one player from Mapleton, freshman defender Ramil Beers ... The Vikings are playing their first-ever season as an all-boys team, with the girls fielding their first-ever team. ... Sweet Home was 2-12 last season, 0-10 in the 4A Oregon West Conference ... The Vikings are playing their first season at the 3A level. ...

ROSTER
Varsity
Freshmen
Ramil Beers, defender
Kale Jensen, midfielder/forward
Camden Linton, defender/forward
Sophomores
Landon Curley, forward/midfielder
Nicholas May, forward
Chuck Nelson, forward
Ray Brito Xilot, midfielder/forward
Juniors
Brayden Linton, midfielder/defender
Eli Tattershall, midfielder
Derrick Vanduch, goalkeeper/midfielder
Seniors
Yoskar De la Mora, midfielder/forward
Alex Goss, defender
Noel Hernandez, midfielder/defender
Lucian Murphy, defender
Jake Roberts, midfielder/goalkeeper

SCHEDULE
Aug. 25 — at Siuslaw 2, Sweet Home 1
Thursday, Sept. 1 — at Junction City (4A), 7 p.m., nonleague
Tuesday, Sept. 6 — Taft (Lincoln City) (3A), 6 p.m., nonleague, Hans Petersen Memorial Field
Thursday, Sept. 8 — at Sutherlin (3A), 6 p.m., nonleague (endowment)
Wednesday, Sept. 14 — at Crosshill Christian (Turner) (1A), 5:30 p.m.
Monday, Sept. 19 — Sisters (3A), 6:30 p.m., Hans Petersen Memorial Field
Wednesday, Sept. 21 — at Santiam Christian/Kings Valley Charter (Adair Village) (3A), 6 p.m.
Monday, Sept. 26 — La Pine (3A), 6:30 p.m., Hans Petersen Memorial Field
Monday, Oct. 3 — Central Linn (2A), 6:30 p.m., 27th and Oak Field
Wednesday, Oct. 5 — Creswell (3A), 6:30 p.m., Hans Petersen Memorial Field
Wednesday, Oct. 12 — Pleasant Hill (3A), 6:30 p.m., Hans Petersen Memorial Field
Monday, Oct. 17 — at Elmira (3A), 6:30 p.m.
Wednesday, Oct. 19 — at East Linn Christian Academy (Lebanon) (2A), 6:30 p.m.