North Medford was able to strike quickly and take advantage against Roseburg en route to an important 3-0 Southwest Conference girls soccer victory Tuesday afternoon.
Black Tornado junior Alia Villa came through with a goal in the first two minutes to put her team in control at Bowerman Field, and the goalkeeping duo of Margaret Hamlin and Bianca Pezqueda made that score hold up.
With the victory, North Medford was able to keep pace in a tight SWC race that has Sheldon unbeaten at the top but the Black Tornado (6-4-2, 5-3-2 SWC) neck-and-neck with Willamette, South Eugene and South Medford in the following spots.
North Medford closes league play with games at South Medford next Tuesday and at home against Willamette two days later.
Olivia Boger’s goal in the 67th minute allowed North to create some cushion against Roseburg (0-5-6, 0-4-5), and Alisa Wisdom collected a goal with three minutes remaining to seal the triumph.
Hamlin played the first 65 minutes in goal before giving way to fellow senior teammate Pezqueda for the final 15 minutes of play.
SOUTH MEDFORD 1, GRANTS PASS 0: At Grants Pass, South Medford sophomore Avery Zahniser rebounded her penalty kick that was initially rejected by goalkeeper AbbieGail Michael for a putback goal in the 27th minute to determine the SWC contest at Mel Ingram Field.
Zahniser had previously been fouled and taken down inside the box to set up the scoring opportunity for the Panthers (7-3-1, 4-3-1 SWC).
Grants Pass fell to 2-7-3 overall and 0-7-3 in SWC play.
Boys
NORTH MEDFORD 1, ROSEBURG 1, tie: At Roseburg, North Medford juniors Matt Donovan and Koby Ibarra connected for a goal in the eighth minute but the Black Tornado was unable to make that stand in the SWC match.
Donovan set up Ibarra for an early goal to get North (6-4-2, 5-3-2 SWC) out on the right foot and the Tornado had several good chances thereafter but couldn’t quite get a finishing touch.
Roseburg (1-7-2, 1-7-1) made several quality saves on shots on frame by North and scored an equalizing goal in the 52nd minute when a player sneaked into traffic for a header on a corner kick.
GRANTS PASS 3, SOUTH MEDFORD 0: Grants Pass scored twice in the opening seven minutes to separate from South Medford for the SWC win at Spiegelberg Stadium.
The Cavemen (7-3, 7-3 SWC) struck early when Abrahm Knight got to a corner kick ahead of Panthers goalie Silvano Pineda and was able to head in a corner kick from Antonio Barrero de la Puerta.
In the seventh minute, Pedro Gonzalez volleyed in a crossing pass from Porter Boersma to give GP plenty of cushion against a South Medford (6-5-1, 4-4-1) team down three starters due to sickness and injury.
Cy Isabell scored the final goal for GP in the first half from the center of the pitch from 30 yards out on ball dropped to him by Kenley Sheard.
ST. MARY’S 6, ROGUE VALLEY ADVENTIST 0: Jose Mondesi registered a hat trick and Chris Kranenburg scored twice to help St. Mary’s remain perfect in District 5 play Monday.
Mondesi and Kranenburg each scored goals in the first half to build a 2-0 advantage for the Crusaders (8-1, 8-0 Dist. 5).
After a pair of Mondesi goals and another by Kranenburg in the second half, Leandro Cronk capped the scoring against RVA (2-6-1, 1-5-1).
South Medford’s Avery Zahniser, left, and North Medford’s Ali Villa each scored a goal for their respective teams on Tuesday. Andy Atkinson / Mail Tribune