By Nathan Max
WSL Executive Editor

Junior middie Tessa Keuler registered a game-high six points on one goal and five assists to lead Oregon City to a 15-6 victory over Wilson in the Oregon Girls Lacrosse Association state championship game Thursday night at the Tualatin Hills Parks and Recreation Center.

Junior middies Shelly Bohrer and Holly Cisneros each added five points on four goals and one assist to help the Pioneers (18-4) secure their second straight state title.

“We all just wanted it so much, and we all have been working so hard,” Keuler said. “The whole season, our goal has been to be in the state championship. And we didn’t lose sight of that goal.”

The lopsided victory in the state-title game, which followed a decisive victory over Lake Oswego in the state semifinal, was a remarkable finish for the defending state champions, who graduated seven key seniors off last year’s team. Nobody expected Oregon City to win it all this season, and the Pioneers’ season nearly came to a premature end against Century in the first-round of the playoffs.

But Oregon City persevered to beat the Jaguars by one, and the Pioneers ran roughshod over their final three opponents. In the end, Oregon City won 10 of its final 11 games.

“It was really all about the great leadership we had with our few returning varsity players,” Oregon City head coach Dara Kramer said. “The team we are now compared to the beginning of the season is so different. They’re so motivated and so coachable. It makes my job a piece of cake.”

On Thursday, sophomore attack Alyssa Albrich scored three goals, sophomore attack Natalie Clegg added a goal and an assist and senior attack Stephany Starr and freshman middie Danielle Kirby each scored once for Oregon City.

Defensively, senior goalie Amanda Willis saved 13 shots.

In defeat, senior middie KK McCaslin and senior middie Emily Zweber each scored twice for Wilson, which finished the season 17-3.

Oregon City took control right from the start. The Pioneers scored the game’s opening four goals and took a 4-0 lead after Albrich scored with 15:44 remaining in the first half.

By the time Bohrer scored with 1:42 remaining in the half, Oregon City had built a 10-2 lead, which was the score when the teams went to halftime.

The second half was just more of the same.

Oregon City built a 10-goal lead at one point after Cisneros scored to make it 13-3 with 13:41 to play. From there, the outcome was no longer in doubt.

“Our defense was just really good,” Willis said. “We made sure to cover everything in the midfield, and we really played as a team, as one unit.”