In a rematch of two girls soccer teams that battled in last season’s Class 4A quarterfinals, Marist Catholic held on for a 3-2 victory over Philomath Thursday night in Eugene.
The Warriors (1-1) will next take the pitch this coming Tuesday with a 4 p.m. home game against Cottage Grove.
Playing on a wet field at Marist, the home team took a 1-0 lead into halftime on a penalty kick goal in the 30th minute by senior Chloe Chase. The Spartans extended their advantage to 2-0 early in the second half on another goal by Chase, this one a header into the net off a corner kick.
The Warriors responded three minutes later with its first goal on a free kick by senior Kamilla Grimmer. But Marist had an answer in the 60th minute to regain a two-goal advantage. The Warriors cut the deficit to 3-2 in the 68th minute on a Bailey Bell goal, the assist going to Grimmer.
“The girls fought really hard and had chances to tie throughout the last 15 minutes,” PHS coach Mat Phelps said.
Marist eliminated Philomath from the 4A playoffs last season, 2-0, on the same field and went on to capture the 4A state title. The Spartans had opened the season Tuesday with a 6-0 win over Churchill while the Warriors routed South Albany, 9-1.
Cottage Grove will enter next week’s game against the Warriors with an 0-1 record — its lone game being a 6-0 loss to Western Christian.
