The Philomath High boys soccer team faced a preseason ranked team for the second straight game to start the season and dropped a 5-1 decision to Ontario at the Bend Soccer Showcase.
Ontario, playing its season opener, found the net three times in the first half with goals in the third, 12th and 33rd minutes.
Philomath scored its first goal of the season in the 54th minute on a shot by senior Esias Sapp. But the Tigers answered with a goal four minutes later for a 4-1 lead and then added another one in the final 10 minutes to account for the final margin.
Ontario is coming off a 13-3 season and was ranked No. 9 in the OSAAtoday preseason coaches poll. The Tigers reached the 4A quarterfinals last season.
Philomath plays its second game in Bend at 9 a.m. Saturday against Baker. Cottage Grove edged Baker in an early afternoon game, 1-0.
Ontario 5, Philomath 1
Friday, Sept. 4, at Bend Field Club Soccer Complex
Teams (Record) 1 2 F Philomath (0-2) 0 1 1 Ontario (1-0) 3 2 5
FIRST HALF—1, Ontario, Uribe (Ramos), 3rd minute; 2, Ontario, Paredes, 12th minute; 3, Ontario, 33rd minute.
SECOND HALF—4, Philomath, Sapp, 54th minute; 5, Ontario, Lopez, 58th minute; 6, Ontario, 71st minute.
STANDINGS—Cascade 2-0, Central 1-0, Stayton 1-0, Newport 0-1-1, Taft 0-1, Philomath 0-2.
SCORES—Sept. 3: Cascade 7, Dallas 0; Central 3, Thurston 0; Newport 0, Lebanon 0. Sept. 4: Ontario 5, Philomath 1.