The Philomath High School girls soccer team had no weak links anywhere on the pitch this fall in the Oregon West Conference, which was easily illustrated by the number of players that earned all-league honors.
All 11 regular starters earned conference recognition, including five on the first team — sophomore Kya Bolton, senior Ana Candanoza, sophomore Bethany Cannon, junior Annaleise Brown and junior Makena Sleeman.
Mat Phelps completed Philomath’s dominating presence on the list as the league’s Coach of the Year.
“That’s 11 girls and there are 11 on the field, so it’s pretty cool to have that representation,” said Phelps, who coached the team to records of 9-0-1 in the conference and 14-2-1 overall while reaching the 4A quarterfinals.
Bolton proved to be a dynamic scorer in Philomath’s attack, finishing the season with 33 goals — the most in Class 4A.
“She’s so dangerous from a variety of ways,” Phelps said. “She can score from the outside with long-distance shooting using both feet. She’s got great speed and can get in behind the defense and finish. She can finish with her head. So, just a really tough mark for any opposing team.”
Candanoza has been a four-year varsity contributor. This season, she was among the top players in the league in assists with 13.
“She’s been consistent all four years and there’s not anybody that works harder than her on the field and playing in the center mid requires a lot physically,” Phelps said. “She’s been able to step up and do that and really sets the tone for our team. She gets all of our teammates involved and she’s a relentless defender. That’s the thing that you don’t see on the stat sheet.”
Cannon had a knack for creating opportunities with her play at center forward next to Bolton.
“Doing the selfless work off the ball, making really good runs that maybe take the defenders away from the play, created opportunities for other players,” Phelps said. “She was really good at checking back to the ball and winning it when it was a 50-50 ball going toward the back line. So, just a really great worker and had some good goals and good assists.”
Brown emerged on defense as a first-year starter at the center back position.
“We play with only three in the back, so she’s the only center defender for us,” Phelps said. “She did a great job stepping into that role. We started the year playing with four and she was one of the girls that really pushed us and said, ‘hey coach, I think we can handle three in the back so that we can get more attackers up the field.’ … Good soccer awareness and great physical ability to be able to clear the ball out with both feet. She has good speed and is kind of imposing back there.”
Sleeman was another first-year starter on the defensive end with her play in net.
“We knew Makena had good technical skill and it was just to see what happens at the varsity level on an everyday basis and she really stepped up,” Phelps said. “She was a great leader, encourager of her teammates and a vocal leader in the back and a really good shot stopper as well and made some big saves.”
Second-team selections from PHS include junior Jordyn Hood, senior Lacey Bacho and senior Maggie King. Sophomore Bella Nunez, senior Ellie Dye and senior Lucy King made the honorable mention list.
Phelps called outside midfielders Bacho and Nunez hard workers with a defensive focus that opposing coaches obviously noticed despite the position often not attracting much recognition. Meanwhile, the King sisters contributed on the back line on a team that allowed only 1.2 goals per game in the conference.
Hood and Dye on the outside also played in a “thankless position” but Phelps said they never complained and were willing to do whatever was needed for teammates. Both also had their shares of goals, particularly Hood on headers off corner kicks.
North Marion senior Paige Comerford was named Player of the Year. Philomath’s 11 selections led the league. The next two highest were North Marion with nine and Newport with seven.
All-Oregon West Conference
Player of the Year — Paige Comerford, Jr., North Marion
Coach of the Year — Mat Phelps, Philomath
FIRST TEAM
Field — Paige Comerford, Sr., North Marion; Kya Bolton, So., Philomath; Bethany Dunn, Sr., North Marion; Eva Sophia Peterson, Sr., Newport; Karley Dessieux, Fr., Stayton; Ana Candanoza, Sr., Philomath; Halle Hammer, Jr., Cascade; Bethany Cannon, So., Philomath
Defenders — Addyson Smith, Sr., North Marion; Annaleise Brown, Jr., Philomath
Goalkeeper — Makena Sleeman, Jr., Philomath
SECOND TEAM
Field — Victoria Valenzuela, Jr., North Marion; Maria De Jesus Mendoza, Sr., Newport; Ziarra Duncan, So., Sweet Home; Jordyn Hood, Jr., Philomath; Natalie Nunez, Fr., Cascade; Rhianna Silva, Fr., Newport; Lacey Bacho, Sr., Philomath; Josie Davidson, Jr., Newport
Defenders — Yolanda (Jacky) Ramirez, Sr., Newport; Maggie King, Sr., Philomath; Doris Rios Valencia, Sr., North Marion
Goalkeeper — Parker Randall, So., Cascade
HONORABLE MENTION
Field — Anabelle Morris, Sr., Sweet Home; Olivia Hunsacker, Sr., Cascade; Bella Nunez, So., Philomath; Ellie Dye, Sr., Philomath; Olivia Richardson, So., Newport; Alice Morgan, Fr., Stayton; Maya Martinez, Sr., Stayton; Yaharit Cisneros, Sr., North Marion
Defenders — Alliah LaVelle, So., Stayton; Khloe Sautel, So., Sweet Home; Rylee Wachter, Sr., North Marion; Lucy King, Sr., Philomath; Bri Carrol, Jr., Cascade
Goalkeeper — Natasha Perez Arredondo, Jr., Newport; Claire Leder, Sr., North Marion; Lyndie Birkett, Jr., Sweet Home
