Saying “this is what soccer is supposed to look like,” Taft High Coach Ryan Ulicni’s boys squad proved “nothing short of spectacular” in a 1-1 league home tie Thursday with Western Christian.
While William Brooks, Jacob Mayoral and Genaro Flores bid farewell to the home crowd on Senior Night at Voris Field, Coach Joey Arce-Torres’ girls squad fell 3-0 to Western Christian in the swan song for Lydia Prins, Ana Ortiz and Melody Diggs.
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William Brooks
Taft High soccer player Ana Ortiz
Taft High soccer player Ana Ortiz
Genaro Flores
Lydia Prins
Jacob Mayoral
Melody Diggs
The six departing seniors left an indelible mark on the school’s soccer programs and in making their teammates better, their respective coaches said.
“When you see how far they have improved, performing like this towards the end of the season is how it should be,” Ulicni said. “The leadership, the camaraderie, the never-give-up attitude makes these boys winners.”
It was Taft’s tri-captains — William Brooks, William Calderon and Edson Fuentes — who again took charge of the game.
“Knowing this would be our toughest competition, these boys mentally prepared themselves to take their play to the next level,” Ulicni said. “Matching Western’s size with our speed made for a great back-and-forth game.”
Taft’s boys improved to 6-3-4 overall and 5-3-4 in Class 3A/2A/1A Special District 2 play with the tie as they battle their way to potential postseason play. Western Christian stands 7-3-3, 7-2-3.
“Falling behind by a goal in the first half, we never gave up or let off the pace,” Ulicni said. “Taking it to them right off the start of the second half, I feel like we controlled the game.”
Creating multiple opportunities led to Alex De Valle scoring following some “fantastic individual skill” off a pass from fellow sophomore Calderon. Calderon took 10 of Taft’s 17 shots on goal.
“Defensively, our team came together, shutting down most of the opposing height with great teamwork and great leadership from senior captain William Brooks,” Ulicni said. “Chalking up 10 saves for the night, he was able to walk away with his head up and proud of the team’s effort.”
Meanwhile, Arce-Torres said he found solace in the girls’ effort despite its shutout defeat.
“We played a well-defended match,” he said. “We kept one of the strongest teams scoreless for the entire first half.”
Arce-Torres said his team received solid play from freshmen Jaelyn Olmeda and Chloe Peterson, and seniors Ortiz and Prins.
“We truly frustrated Western and kept the pressure off our goalkeeper,” he said. “I really thought we had this one. The kids were fired up for Senior Night and we were on top of our game.”
Western came out more physical in the second half and “broke our spirit” with a second goal “on a laser and a well-placed hit,” Arce-Torres said. “Those kind of shots you just tip your hat to and say well done.”
Western Christian added a goal with about 30 seconds remaining in the match to improve to 8-3-2 overall and 7-2-1 in SD2 play, while the Tigers fell to 2-9-2, 2-8-2.
“It felt much like our match against powerful Dayton, but without a goal,” he said. “We did many good things, but just not enough to pull out a win.”
The veteran Taft coach expressed excitement about expanding his program next season.
“All athletes played, and that’s difficult to do when you have 22 kids suiting up,” he said. “We’re looking forward to having a JV program next year so we can give more minutes to every athlete and compete with more experienced individuals.”
Arce-Torres, who lost nine seniors entering this season, said he will miss the three upperclassmen graduating this year.
“It’s sad to lose our seniors, especially Lid and Ana — both were four-year starters,” he said. “They have elevated our program with their passion and dedication. I am humbled by the composure and leadership they have provided.”
Both Taft soccer squads will conclude their regular season with two league road matches next week.
Fourth-ranked Willamina made Taft a welcome homecoming guest Thursday night by taking advantage of five turnovers to overcome an early 7-6 deficit for a 40-13 Class 3A Special District 1 West Division high school football victory.
The Tigers scored on an 8-yard pass from senior quarterback David Jin to senior wideout Tyee Fisher to take a 7-6 first-quarter lead before falling behind 27-7 at halftime.
Taft junior Logan McLendon caught a second-half touchdown from Jin for the Tigers’ other score in a penalty-filled, turnover-laden game.
Taft fell to 1-6 overall and 0-3 in league play with its fifth straight defeat, while the Bulldogs improved to 5-2, 2-1.
The Tigers return home next week for the final two games of the regular season against Dayton and second-ranked Rainier, which hosts top-rated Amity in West Division play Friday.
The following is live, breaking, play-by-play coverage of tonight’s Class 3A Special District 1 West Division high school football game . . .
First Quarter
Taft, dressed in its road whites, kicked off to Willamina, donned in black for its homecoming game, to start the game and forced and recovered a fumble to take possession at the Bulldogs’ 43 following a 27-yard return.
The Tigers failed to move on three plays to set up a fourth-and-8 following an offsides penalty, which Taft went for, but sophomore JJ French fumbled just short of a first down that turned the ball over to Willamina at its own 38.
Willamina senior running back David Healon then burst up the middle and rambled 62 yards for a touchdown to make it 6-0 Willamina with 10:09 following a blocked point-after kick.
Taft took possession on the ensuing kick at its own 35. French gained 13 yards on second down for the Tigers’ second first down of the series into Willamina territory. Taft senior quarterback David Jin, playing on a sore ankle that cost him a start last week against Clatskanie, gained another first down on the drive. Jin busted the next play for 15 yards to the 8 for first-and-goal five minutes into the period. Two plays went nowhere before Jin hit senior receiver Tyee Fisher for an 8-yard score and a 7-6 Taft lead following the PAT.
Taft recovered a second Willamina fumble on the kickoff to resume possession in good field position. Taft opted to go again on fourth down and turned the ball over on downs on an incomplete pass.
Willamina failed to move the ball and punted to the Tigers late in the quarter, where they took possession at their own 28 with 3:37 left. French fumbled the ball back to the Bulldogs, however, following a 4-yard gain.
Willamina senior quarterback Kaleb Reid lost yardage on the first play from there with about two minutes left in the opening quarter. An incomplete pass on third down forced the Bulldogs into a punting situation and the Tigers took possession at their own 20 with 1:19 remaining.
Senior wide receiver Logan McLendon then gained 32 yards on a pass over the middle from Jin with 58 seconds to play. A short gain and an incompletion caused the Tigers to go for another first down on fourth down that Fisher converted on a completion from Jin as the quarter clock ticked down.
Second Quarter
Taft couldn’t convert another fourth-down attempt, this time in the red zone, to surrender possession to Willamina at its own 13-yard line.
A personal foul penalty on the Tigers gave the Bulldogs a first down before Reid broke a run on a misdirection play just shy of Taft territory. Willamina moved into Taft turf at the 39 on the next play 9:08 before halftime. Reid then hit senior receiver Colton Doane for a first down to the 20 before a TD run on the next play was called back by a holding penalty.
Heavy pressure caused an incompletion to bring up third-and-long before Reid busted one 20-plus yards for first-and-goal midway through the quarter. Willamina sophomore Ruben Rizo then broke a tackle and scored to make it 12-7 following a missed conversion kick.
Taft failed to move the ball and punted to the Bulldogs six minutes before intermission. Reid broke two tackles to move deep into Tigers territory at the 11 with 3:26 left. Reid then broke through for an 11-yard score to make it 20-7 following a two-point conversion pass at 3:15.
Taft took the ensuing kick at its own 30, but couldn’t advance and lost possession on downs on a failed fake punt that gave Willamina the ball at the Tigers 26 with 2:14 left before halftime. Rizo then scored on a 19-yard pass from Reid to make it 27-7 after the point-after with 1:32 to play.
Taft took possession and let the clock run down to halftime following a sack.
Halftime
Charlotte LundstedtDivine MatthewsMegan Jensen
Third Quarter
The Tigers took the opening kick of the second half and surrendered possession on a punt after failing to move the ball. The Bulldogs converted a third-down play for a first down to the Taft 40.
Reid then completed a pass to senior receiver Austin Watkins for 28 yards to the 13. A penalty cost the Bulldogs 15 yards to the 28 before Reid hit Watkins to the original line of scrimmage at the 13. Willamina missed a 30-yard field goal try from there to keep the score 27-7.
French gained six yards for a first down from the Taft 20 before junior Trenton Hall ran for another first down at 5:39 of the quarter. After McLendon caught his third pass of the game for a third first down on the drive inside Willamina territory, Taft benefited from a personal foul penalty, followed by an unsportsmanlike conduct call that advanced the ball to the 13.
After Hall burst 12 yards to the 1 on the next play, a facemask penalty moved the ball inches closer before a motion penalty moved the ball back to the 6. French was stopped for two yards to the 4 before Jin missed sophomore Fco Ramos on a pass to the back of the end zone. Jin overthrew McLendon to surrender possession at the Willamina 4 with 3:18 left in the quarter.
Taft junior linebacker Logan Gilleo then recovered Willamina’s third fumble of the game at the Bulldogs 12, where French gained four yards to the 8. Jin and McLendon then hooked up for a score to make it 27-13 after a failed kick.
Fourth Quarter
The Bulldogs opened the final period with a big play to the Taft 8. Doane scored on a reception from Reid from there to make it 34-13 after the PAT at 10:26.
Taft fumbled the ball away on the next possession before McLendon intercepted another pass for the Tigers. Starting at their own 9, McLendon gained 13 yards on a catch to the 22. After French gained eight yards to the 30 with 7:22 to play, penalties moved the ball back to midfield before Jin was intercepted with 6:22 remaining.
After regaining possession, Taft fumbled the ball back to the Bulldogs, who moved inside the 10 with 3:33 to play. Backup quarterback Dominik Briant then threw for another Willamina score to make it 40-13 with 2:21 left.
French then sprinted 72 yards for a score, but the touchdown was called back by an illegal man downfield penalty. Ramos caught a pass from Jin for 45 yards on the next play to the Willamina 32.
Taft marched inside the 10, where sophomore Antonio Suarez came on to replace Jin, who left the game after being shaken up by several big hits. Suarez then hit French to the 5, where the Tigers called timeout with three seconds left. A final play on fourth-and-goal fell incomplete.
Senior David Jin will be back as Taft High’s starting quarterback Thursday despite nursing an injured ankle when the Tigers travel to Willamina.
Taft will need all the help it can get from all of its skill players, including sophomore running back JJ French, who scored both Tiger touchdowns last week. The Bulldogs (4-2, 1-1) enter in the 7 p.m. Class 3A Special District 1 West Division game ranked fourth in the state.
“Willamina is a good team with a good record,” Taft Coach Jake Tolan said, “but I feel we have a good shot to compete for a win.”
Jin’s ankle, which forced him out of last week’s game, won’t be 100 percent, so sophomore Antonio Suarez could also see some snaps despite an injured leg of his own, Tolan said.
Offense could be the least of the Tigers’ worries, however. Taft, 1-5 overall and 0-2 in conference play, must find a way to tighten up its defense after surrendering 256 points this season, or 43.6 points per game.
“This week our focus has been on tackling better,; something we didn’t do well against Clatskanie [in a 55-12 road loss],” Tolan said. “We have also worked both our offensive and defensive lines hard this week, as I feel these two groups will be vital tomorrow if we want to have a chance for a win.”
The Lincoln County School District Board of Directors has selected Dave Price to complete the term in Zone 1 vacated by the Sept. 11 resignation of Karen Bondley.
Price, director of the Small Business Development Center at Oregon Coast Community College, was chosen over Shawnee Bledsoe of Lincoln City and Megan Cawley of Otis.
The Zone 1 position, which covers the North County area, will be open for election after June 2019. It is a volunteer position and unpaid.
In a match Taft High boys soccer Coach Ryan Ulicni described as “the fastest-paced, back-and-forth game you would ever want to see but hate to watch,“ Tuesday’s scoreless home league tie with Dayton will go down as perhaps the Tigers’ most memorable showdown of the season.
“I believe we controlled most of the game, bringing the game to another level that had the other team trying to keep up,” Ulicni said after Taft and Dayton decided next to nothing in a 0-0 tie. “We’re still building this young team of ours, and now, using this speed, this is what we were meant for.”
Taft tri-captains Edson Fuentes, William Calderon and William Brooks “led the team in their own way, keeping the spirits up,” Ulicni said.
Brooks, an all-league senior goalie, had 12 saves.
“Very likely without his focus, skill and leadership, we would have lost,” Ulicni conceded.
Caldron and Fuentes led the charge in the midfield and at forward, respectively, while sophomore Adam Lascano also stood out with his midfield play by “going to every ball and never backing down.”
Taft moved to 6-3-3 overall and 5-3-3 in Class 3A/2A/1A Special District 2 play with the tie, while Dayton stands 6-1-4, 6-1-4.
“That may have been our team’s best game to date,” the first-year Taft coach said. “It’s still difficult to look at the scoreboard and wonder how. I see a better quality in everyone’s passing, dribbling and shooting.”
Ulicni said he liked the 11 shots his squad took on goal “because they were better attempts than in the past.”
“We had some changes in our formation, which allowed us to be more aggressive towards the goal,” he said. “These changes can be hard to get used to, but these boys have adapted so well.
“They are proud of their performance tonight and they seem hungry for more. We’re still sitting on the edge of the playoffs. I know they are going to press onward and upward.”
Taft returns to league play at 6 p.m. Thursday on Senior Night against Western Christian/Perrydale. The Tigers close out the regular season with two conference road matches next week.
Sophomore goalie Tristan Bradley (File photo by Lon French)
Calling it his team’s most complete match of the season, Taft High Coach Joey Arce-Torres’ girls soccer team played Dayton to a 1-1 league home tie Tuesday behind the stellar goalkeeping of sophomore Tristan Bradley.
“She had a big day and played as we expected her to perform all season,” Arce-Torres said. “She had double-digit saves and made good decisions all evening.”
Arce-Torres implemented a few changes defensively to provide more speed and assist senior sweeper Ana Ortiz with coverage against the state’s 11th-ranked Pirates.
Freshmen Chloe Peterson and Jaelyn Olmeda joined the back line to assist seniors Ortiz and Lydia Prins, who will be making their home farewell at 4 p.m. Thursday against Western Christian/Perrydale.
“With that looming, we very much needed to groom some athletic kids to step into their roles next year,” Arce-Torres said.
Junior Sammy Halferty scored midway through the first half for Taft’s lone goal, which came from the right side on a pass from freshman Nicole Reyes.
“It is her favorite angle to shoot from and she caught all of it,” Arce-Torres said.
Taft improved to 3-8-2 overall and 3-7-2 in Special District 2 play, while Dayton fell to 8-3-1, 8-3-1.
“Dayton was puzzled by our speed and tenacity of our midfielders,” Arce-Torres said. “They kept trying to muscle us and knock us off the ball. Regardless on how many times they knocked us to the turf, we got up each time and wouldn’t retreat.”
Arce-Torres said he believed his team earned a measure of respect from the Pirates, who scored in the second half following some strong passing on the right side of the pitch.
“They were relentless and kept bringing numbers,” he said. “The score came from a crowded box, our keeper couldn’t see the shot, and it found its way into our goal.
“I was a little concerned after that goal that we may lose our confidence, but it didn’t happen. Aubrey [Sciarrotta], Avery [Nightingale] and Sammy refocused and made sure Dayton wouldn’t complete a comeback.
“It was a great team performance and one that will motivate us to do the necessary things needed to make the playoffs, as well as set the precedent for play next season.”
Taft must win two of its next three matches to close out the regular season to have a shot at the playoffs, Arce-Torres said.
“I know we can do it, especially if we play as well as we did today,” he said.
Taft hosts Western Christian at 4 p.m. Thursday in the home finale before facing Gervais and Amity on the road next week.
Several new features and improvements were rolled out and introduced Tuesday on lchomepage.com, the social network created by Lincoln City Homepage for the people of Lincoln City.
One of the things users gave us feedback on was how bright their screens were late at night and how this was not conducive with a good night’s rest. We listened and there is now an option to “reverse” the color scheme to night mode.
This feature can be accessed from the three dots next to a user’s circle profile picture in the top bar.
The website will “remember” what mode you selected, so the next time you log in, that mode will be automatically selected.
Remember, you can always suggest new features to us at [email protected].
Night mode
Reaction system
Liking a post was never really enough, so when users asked us if there was a way we could emulate Facebook’s reaction system we knew it was an option.
Now, you can like, love, laugh, say wow, be sad and get angry.
The reaction system is close to Facebook’s we will admit, but ours is animated.
Points system
We struggled with this one. How could we reward users for engaging with each other? The point system works by giving a user points every time they like, create a post and comment.
Points can be used to buy advertising on the site or upgrade a profile to the pro-mode version that offers additional benefits like boosting posts and pages.
Quick Create
Users told us it was not easy to create new things on the site like blogs, events, groups and pages. Now you can do this by clicking the circle with a “+” at the top of the site. Hopefully, this addresses the issue and sees users creating more pages and groups.
Privacy
We added the ability to use your phone for lost passwords, which makes us all a little safer, as well as a session manager so users can see what devices have logged in to their account and gives them the control to log any devices out. This is a big step in keeping accounts secure, and we have doubled down on security on the admin side, too.
Other upgrades
This has been such a big update that an article focusing on all of them would be too large to read so we will condense the rest.
The Marketplace has been overhauled. The format changes are designed to make it easier to search for products and add them.
A new menu item called “Popular Posts” will display the most reacted to and commented on posts.
You can now poke users.
Events has also been overhauled. Should now be easier to add events and select the time.
Pro Mode Beta. This is an experiment that allows users to pay with their wallet with funds earned from interacting with the community to boost posts and pages and become a featured member. Pro members also get a verified badge. The main reason for this development is to generate revenue so the site can continue to improve and will not affect a free user’s experience by giving pro members overpowered or unfair advantages.
Advertising has been reworked to include points to be used as currency. 1,000 points = $1. With each like, comment or creation of a new post, users balances will increase until they have enough to advertise. A flat 10-cent per click cost for advertising can be set for now. Creating a new ad is easier now with the Quick Create link.
All features are in development and subject to modification based on user-input.
Thanks for visiting the site and offering feedback.
Autobahn 101 will host a public question-and-answer event with Lincoln City mayoral candidates Dick Anderson, David Dahle and Susan Wahlke from 6-8 p.m, Wednesday, Oct. 17.
“Conversation with the Candidates” has been posted to Facebook as an event so users of the social network are encouraged to respond if going.
“This will be a good chance to get to know your candidates, ask questions and mingle,” Autobahn 101 owner Roy Baker said. “I wanted to bring the community together and have people get to know their candidates on a more personal level.”
Bratwursts for $7, drink specials and live music will follow immediately after the event. Rock ‘n’ roll band “Uncle Roy” will perform.
Rock ‘n’ roll band “Uncle Roy”
Autobahn 101, 1512 SE Hwy 101, is a family-oriented restaurant serving authentic traditional German food, including rare micro and German beers on tap.
Taft High senior Micah McLeish placed 11th to pace the boys team and junior Autumn Ellis finished 19th to lead the girls Friday in the Fred Berkey Cross Country Invite in Tillamook.
Sixth-graders Ryan Best and Trenton Battle led the Taft boys middle school runners, while sixth-grader Julia Towers was the fastest Taft girls finisher.
The Taft boys finished fifth and the girls seventh in varsity competition at Camp Magruder. The Taft boys finished eighth and the girls seventh in the middle school meet.
Tillamook won the 5,000-meter boys and girls varsity meets, while Newberg claimed both 3,000-meter middle-school team titles.
Taft returns to action with Delphian, Santiam, Sheridan and the Oregon School for the Deaf Tuesday in the Willamina Cross Country Invitational at Fort Yamhill.
Who’d have ever thunk it? They say winning is contagious, but seriously?
Before the hangover from snapping a three-year league losing streak Thursday had even worn off, Taft High started a winning streak Saturday before emerging as runner-up of the 12-team Western Christian Volleyball Tournament in Salem.
“I am beyond impressed and proud of the girls today,” second-year Taft coach Kelsey Hart said. “It’s like Thursday’s win flipped a switch in them.”
Mere hours after winning their first volleyball match of the season and first league match in almost three years, the Tigers defeated two teams in pool play and another in the championship bracket before falling in Saturday’s title game.
Thursday’s 3-1 (25-21, 25-11, 19-25, 25-20) Class 3A Coastal Range League win over Clatskanie was the Tigers’ first league victory following 37 straight defeats since a 3-1 home win over Horizon Christian-Tualatin on Oct. 5, 2015. It snapped a 29-match overall losing streak.
Calling her team “relaxed, controlled and aggressive,” Hart’s Tigers amassed a number of aces and kills over the course of Saturday’s tournament to secure second place.
Taft swept City Christian and Chemawa in pool play before suffering a narrow loss to Westside Christian. The Tigers’ high scores in the first two matches earned the fourth seed overall in the championship bracket.
“We were stoked,” Hart said in her best beach volleyball slang.
Based on the seeding, Taft took on Western Christian of the Class 2A Tri-River Conference and rallied after losing the first set 25-15 to win two straight, 25-14, 15-11, and advance to the title game before falling to Tigard’s Class 3A Westside Christian of the Lewis & Clark League, 25-13, 25-13.
“While we would have loved to have taken first, they were a great team and it was just amazing to see the improvement we’ve made over when we played them in league last year,” Hart said. “I am so proud of them, and can’t wait to see where we go from here.”
Where it takes Taft from here is to a 5:30 p.m. non-league home match against Creswell. The Tigers play Wednesday at Willamina in a Coastal Range League match before closing out the regular season Tuesday, Oct. 16, at home against Warrenton.
The Lincoln County School District Board of Directors has selected Dave Price to complete the term in Zone 1 vacated by the Sept. 11 resignation of Karen Bondley.
