The Philomath High School boys soccer team overcame a 1-0 halftime deficit to defeat Newport on the road, 2-1, Thursday evening.
The Cubs (4-4-1 overall, 2-3 Oregon West) opened the game with a goal in the seventh minute. On the play, a ball that hit goalkeeper Jake McGaughy’s leg was picked up on the rebound and Newport finished for the early advantage.
“After that, the game settled into a back-and-forth affair,” PHS coach Dave Ellis said. “Dreyton (Nuno) had two excellent chances at goal but the Newport goalkeeper saved both. At half, we felt we had the best chance to score.”
In the second half, Philomath (5-3, 3-2) was awarded a free kick from about 19 yards. Ellis said freshman Sammy Hernandez “bent a ball around the wall just inside right post” to tie the game in the 57th minute.
Then in the 67th minute, the Warriors took the lead that would hold up the rest of the way. Senior Silas Pittman, a player Ellis said led his team well, picked up a ricochet that fell to him on a counterattack and he scored off the left post for the 2-0 lead.
Hernandez came close to scoring later but found no luck on a shot that hit the right post.
The Warriors will begin their second trek through the league Tuesday with a road game at Sweet Home. The team’s next home game arrives Thursday vs. No. 1 Stayton.
