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Eagle Women Take 8 Game Soccer Win Streak into Conference
With an eight game winning streak and the No. 18 spot in the most recent state rankings, the 2024 Eagles women's soccer team is soaring to new heights.
Their record was 5-0-1 when they became the first College of the Siskiyous soccer team to earn a spot in the state rankings that came out Sept. 16. They've won three more games by shutout since then.
After playing Truckee Meadows to a season-opening 2-2 tie, the Eagles have allowed just one goal in eight games while outscoring opponents by a combined 38-1.
Freshman forward Brooklynn Wade of Yuma, AZ, leads the state in goals with 19 in just 8 games and leads the state in points. She already has sped past the previous school record for scoring in one season and is nearing the school record for scoring in a career. Keely McLeod held both records with her 12 goals in 2018 and 7 in 2019.
Freshman Maddie Towner of Mount Shasta had 3 assists in the Eagles' 6-0 win over Yuba on Friday and is among the state leaders with 6 assists for the season. She had one of those assists and scored two goals in the Eagles' most recent game, a 5-0 win Tuesday at De Anza.
Sophomore Abigail Escobedo of Weed and freshman forward Jonell Alderson of Foothill High School in Redding are also among the state leaders with 4 assists each.
Maiyah McDonald of Central Point, OR, has scored 4 goals, including one unassisted Tuesday at De Anza.
Freshman Corynn Lemos of Shasta High School in Redding scored two goals in Friday's win over Yuba to increase her season total to 3. Corynn's cheering section during that home game included her parents, Mike and Melissa, who both grew up in Weed.
Siskiyous head coach Ed Kephart said the team's goalkeepers, starter Avery Suhr of Greeley, CO, and Oceanna Knight of Anderson, both freshmen, have been assisted in their efforts to prevent goals by "a really good attacking offense" that keeps opposing teams on their back foot.
Suhr had 7 saves in the opener against Truckee and 4 saves in the 1-0 win at Foothill.
That attacking offense is one of the top scoring teams in the state, boosted by Wade scoring 5 goals in the game at Gavilan and adding 3 goals in three other games.
The Eagles return home to open their Golden Valley Conference schedule this Friday against rival Shasta. Though Shasta brings an 0-3 record into the game, Kephart is expecting a tough challenge, and that may well continue throughout the conference season.
Defending GVC champion Lake Tahoe is 6-1-2 for the season and was several spots above the Eagles in the last state rankings. Feather River (5-3-1) was ranked 19th, and Redwoods has started the season 3-0.
Friday's home game is scheduled to start at 1:30 p.m. and will be followed by the men's conference opener at 4 p.m.
By Steve Gerace