Philomath High’s girls soccer team scored twice in the first 11 minutes and held on behind a strong defensive performance to beat Molalla 2-1 on the home pitch Thursday afternoon.
Freshman Lilly Ellis opened the scoring just 25 seconds into the match when she converted off an assist from junior Reagan Nuño. Sophomore Jordyn Allen made it 2-0 in the 11th minute by finishing a rebound after junior Bethany Cannon’s shot hit the right post.
Gallery: PHS girls soccer vs. Molalla (Sept. 17, 2026)
A collection of photos from Philomath High’s 2-1 girls soccer win at home over Molalla on Thursday.
Molalla (3-2) cut the deficit to 2-1 in the 42nd minute when sophomore Lauren VanDeLatt scored off a corner kick from junior Kenzy McCalister, but Philomath’s defense held up the rest of the way.
Senior goalkeeper Makena Sleeman made 10 saves, and senior center back Annaleise Brown cleared several balls out of danger as the Warriors improved to 2-3.
Warriors coach Mat Phelps said Molalla’s speed and direct style tested his back line.
“They were a physical, fast team, and they wanted to play the through ball,” Phelps said. “We have some good speed with Annaleise and Reagan back there, but we’re still trying to figure out how it works together for us so that we don’t have to chase it all the time.”
Brown said the defense’s focus coming in was staying organized as Nuño pushed forward from the back line into the attack.
“It was just making sure that we stayed together,” Brown said about defensive strategy. “We’ve been letting Reagan go up on the left side into the attack, so just making sure that as a back line we’re staying together and really working together.”
Phelps praised Brown’s ability to both defend and lead.
“You have to have somebody back there that can physically do the job and battle and win the ball and have good speed, but also can help organize your teammates and be a leader back there,” Phelps said. “She does a good job — giving gentle guidance when it’s needed, and sometimes not as gentle.”
Phelps said his team’s attack has shown steady growth since the season opener.
“Our attack is getting better,” he said. “We had a lot of chances today, which we haven’t had as many chances in some of the other games. Being able to play a little more skill and work together without some of the top-end speed we’ve had in the past is something we’re working on.”
Philomath has leaned heavily on underclassmen so far this season after losing key contributors from a year ago, and Brown said the young talent — including Nuño, who is returning to the field for the first time since middle school — has embraced the challenge.
“We’ve had a lot of underclassmen step up this year, and it’s really fun to see everyone working hard together,” Brown said. As one of the team’s senior leaders, she added, “there’s always some added pressure. But I’m kind of used to it.”
Phelps had no definitive timetable for the return of Kya Bolton, last season’s top scorer, and Jordyn Hood, senior wing. Both starters are working through injuries.
Philomath will open Oregon West Conference play on Sept. 24 at Newport.
Philomath 2, Molalla 1
Thursday, Sept. 17, at Philomath HS
Teams (Record) 1 2 F Molalla (3-2) 0 1 1 Philomath (2-3) 2 0 2
FIRST HALF—1, Philomath, L. Ellis (Nuño), 1st minute; 2. Philomath, Allen (Cannon), 11th minute.
SECOND HALF—3, Molalla, VanDeLatt (McCalister), 42nd minute.
