Stayton forward Alfredo Navarro (8) looks up from the turf after missing a shot on goal against Sisters during the OSAA Class 4A state championship game, Saturday, November 14, 2015, at Liberty High School in Hillsboro, Ore. Stayton lost 2-1.
HILLSBORO – Momentum disappeared quickly.
Stayton High senior Freddy Navarro scored a goal to tie Sisters 1-1 with 14 minutes left in Saturday’s OSAA Class 4A state championship boys soccer game at Liberty High School to put the Eagles back into the match.
But Sisters had a big response.
Malachy Sundstrom scored off an assist from Colton Mannhalter with 11 minutes left for a 2-1 Sisters lead, and the Outlaws finished out on defense to win the state championship, their second state title in three years.
Stayton (14-1-2) was in the state championship game for the second time in as many years and places second for the second year in a row.
“To get here twice two years in a row, I think it’s pretty special,” Stayton coach Chris Shields said. “I’m happy. To get to this point, any time you get to the semifinal, any time you get to the last four or the last two, it’s just you’re kind of grateful to be wherever you’re at and blessed that we have some good players.
“I wish that we had played with maybe just a little more intensity or a little more heart. It just felt like we were scared. Sometimes the big stage is tough for some. It is a big stage.”
Stayton forward Alfredo Navarro (8) celebrates his game tying goal against Sisters during the OSAA Class 4A state championship game, Saturday, November 14, 2015, at Liberty High School in Hillsboro, Ore. Stayton lost 2-1.
Stayton was in the state championship game for the third time in six years, having previously won the state championship in 2010.
But Sisters (16-0-1) started with more intensity early in Saturday’s match.
The Outlaws constantly kept the ball in the forward third of the field in the first half, won a ton of 50-50 balls in the air and limited Stayton’s offensive possessions.
In the 22nd minute, Mannhalter took the ball through the center defense then beat Stayton goalkeeper Jose Navarro with a shot from 12 yards out for a 1-0 Sisters lead.
“Credit Sisters, they got some speed,” Shields said. “Their players up front, when their opportunity was there, he broke it up and did his thing, and that’s the difference.”
Stayton started the second half strong, pushing the ball forward constantly in the first 20 minutes.
With 14 minutes left, Ivan Navarro fed a pass to Freddy Navarro just past midfield. Freddy Navarro beat two defenders, turned around and scored from 12 yards out with his left foot to tie the match at 1-1.
“That was a great finish the one finish that he had,” Shields said. “That’s typical Navarro type finishing. He scored a bunch of goals this year.”
But Sundstrom’s goal three minutes later proved the difference.
The Eagles had eight shots in the second half, compared to three for the Outlaws.
bpoehler@StatesmanJournal.com, (503) 399-6701 or Twitter.com/bpoehler
Sisters 2, Stayton 1
At Liberty High School, Hillsboro
SIS- Colton Mannhalter 22:00; STA- Freddy Navarro 66:00; SIS- Malachy Sundstrom (Mannhalter) 69:00.