South Eugene high school soccer demonstrated resilience and teamwork this week as both the boys’ and girls’ squads rallied from halftime deficits to secure playoff victories.
Boys advance with a dominant second half
On Tuesday, Nov. 3, the No. 7 seeded South Eugene boys faced No. 23 seeded Grants Pass in a 6A first‑round matchup. Trailing 2‑1 at halftime, head coach Pete Peterson gathered his players, reviewed the opponent’s 40‑minute statistics—two shots and two goals—and urged them to stay calm and play their game. The message resonated. South Eugene exploded in the second half, scoring five unanswered goals to win 6‑2.
“It was all about settling down, reminding them the game was ours to take,” Peterson said. “We didn’t have to rush; we just executed.” The victory sets up a quarterfinal clash with No. 2 seeded Cleveland on Nov. 7 at 3 p.m.
Girls survive a tense penalty shootout
The following day, the No. 6 seeded South Eugene girls met No. 22 seeded Beaverton. After falling behind 1‑0 early in the first half, the Eagles rallied to tie the game at 1‑1 by the end of regulation. Overtime produced no further goals, sending the match to penalty kicks.
Head coach Hannah Young emphasized the team’s focus on character throughout the season. “We’ve been talking about what type of team we want to be in the hard moments since day one,” Young explained. “When we went down, we huddled, talked it through, and bounced back.”
Junior Presley Johnston delivered South’s only regulation goal with a 25‑yard free kick that ricocheted off the post and into the net. In the shootout, senior Emma Pettersson converted the decisive fifth penalty after the Beaverton taker missed, giving South a 5‑4 shootout win.
“I saw it hit the post and thought ‘Uh‑oh,’ but then it bounced in,” Johnston recalled. “That was a big moment for us.” The girls now travel to No. 3 seeded Central Catholic on Nov. 7, time to be determined.
What this means for Lane County soccer
South Eugene’s double‑header success keeps seven Lane County teams alive in the hunt for a state title. The boys’ next opponent, Cleveland, is a top‑seeded program, while the girls will face a strong Central Catholic squad. Both teams have shown the grit and faith‑based perseverance that resonates with the community’s values.
Local fans are encouraged to support the teams at their upcoming games. The playoff schedule continues through the weekend, with additional matchups across the 5A, 4A, and 3A classifications.
Original reporting: Homepage – Lookout Eugene-Springfield — read the source article.
