Molalla boys stretch soccer win streak to three matches

Molalla’s boys soccer team is on a bit of a heater, reeling off three straight wins after opening the season with a pair of defeats to quality teams.

Molalla lost to the top-ranked team in Class 4A, Valley Catholic, and the current No. 9 team in the OSAA rankings, Ontario, to open the season.

Since then, the Indians have scored 16 goals in three matches to get this engine humming.

“We were able to bounce back with three straight wins against Baker, Sweet Home, and Philomath,” said head coach Sergio Maldonado about the team reacting to the two early losses. “The offense is being led by senior Rigo Lopez, freshman Alex Lopez and sophomore Luis Orozco,” said Maldonado. “In our 3-2 win at Baker (Sept. 12), Luis scored a hat trick. Luis and Rigo each got a hat trick in our 7-0 win at Sweet Home (Sept. 15), and Luis and Rigo each scored a brace in our home game against Philomath last Thursday (Sept. 17).”

Lopez has contributed four assists and one goal in four games.

“We ended our preseason on a positive note and begin conference play at North Marion on (Thursday) Sept. 24,” said Maldonado.

They then get a visit from Estacada on Monday, Sept. 28. Molalla is currently ranked 11th in the OSAA poll.