ORE GIRLS: Oregon City Girls Win 1st Oregon State Championship

By Nathan Max
WSL Executive Editor

Senior middies Natalie Harrington and Kaitlyn Harper each registered a co-game-high seven points to lead No. 13 Oregon City to a 23-7 victory over Lake Oswego in the Oregon Girls Lacrosse Association state championship game Thursday night at Tualatin Hills Park.

Harrington scored four goals and added three assists, and Harper finished with three goals and four assists, as the Pioneers (19-1) won the state championship for the first time in school history.

“We just pulled it together and realized this was the state championship game,” said Harrington, who was named the title game’s most valuable player. “This was it. We’ve worked so hard for so many years to achieve this.”

In all, seven Oregon City players scored at least once and five players, all seniors, had five points or more.

Senior attack Maddie Garcia added five goals, senior middie Brianne Paisley had five points on four goals and one assist and senior attack Kelsey Sether also scored four goals and dished an assist.

“I’m so proud of our senior leadership,” Oregon City head coach Dara Kramer said. “Our seniors really brought this team together, kept everyone focused and kept everyone motivated. It’s just so nice to go to practice with a team that’s self-motivated. They all wanted it for themselves.”

A couple underclassmen contributed as well for the Pioneers, who finished the season a perfect 18-0 against Oregon competition. Oregon City’s only loss came against Washington state champion Lakeside.

Sophomore attack Tessa Keuler had three points on two goals and an assist, and sophomore middie Holly Cisneros had a goal to round out the offense.

Defensively, Amanda Willis saved six shots before coming out, as the Pioneers were rolling to a lopsided win.

“Everybody stepped up,” Kramer said. “Several of our girls had their best games tonight. We moved the ball well, so many girls were offensive threats, and they just played with a lot of heart. They kept focused, knew what the goal was and went out there and went after it.”

Lake Oswego finished the season 14-4 and lost to Oregon City for the third time. The Lakers also lost in the state championship game for the second straight season.

It didn’t take long before Thursday night’s game turned into an Oregon City victory party, as the Pioneers led 10-3 at halftime. But spurred on by memories of the 2007 championship game, when Oregon City blew a five-goal halftime lead and lost in overtime to St. Mary’s, the Pioneers laid down the hammer in the second half and left no doubt.

“I think we realized, we’re not going to let it slip away this time,” Harrington said. “We were consistent throughout the whole game.

“I couldn’t be more proud of my team, my coaches and everyone who was a part of this. The seniors have worked hard for four years to achieve this, and everyone deserves it. Our coach, Dara Kramer, has put her heart and soul into this team for many years.

“And she deserves it.”