For the Southern Oregon University soccer squad, it’s been a season of ups and downs. 

They found themselves 4-0-1 to start the season before dropping their next three to fall to 4-3-1.  Ever since the Raiders have been 5-2-1, currently standing at 8-5-2 and are tied for fourth in the Cascade Collegiate Conference at 4-2-1 with Corban and Oregon Tech.

If the season ended today, the Raiders would be on the outside looking in because only the top four teams in conference will advance to the CCC tournament.

In order to make it to the playoffs this season, the Raiders would need to beat College of Idaho and Eastern Oregon need Corban and rivial Oregon Tech to lose one, or both, of their last two games to make it to the tournament.

The Raiders offense will be their best assent as senior Stephanie Carr has already recorded 12 goals this season with Sydeny Paulsen, Juile Zawzow and Stacy Hamer all have four goals apiece for the Raiders; and have 24 of the team’s 31 goals on the season.

Defensively the Raiders will rely on Kelsey Clement and Katelyn Allen’s ability to keep the ball out of the net as both are combined for 38 saves on a 1.27 goals allowed on the season.

Heading into Friday’s contest in Caldwell, Idaho; the Raiders will be facing a tough challenge in the College of Idaho.  The Coyotes (are 5-3 in their last eight matches, led by goalie Melissa Homes-Joesph’s 54 saves and a 1.53 goals against average this season. However, the Raiders have won the last two matches against the Coyotes in the past two years and outscored the Coyotes 4-0 in both games.

On Sunday for game two of the weekend, the Raiders will travel to La Grande to face Eastern Oregon University.  The Mountaineers (1-12, 1-6) are looking to play spoiler lead by Courtney Randall as the shooter for the team.  For the Raiders even though they have a five-game winning streak against Eastern, Coach Jon Clement has always said that they must respect their opponent no matter what they’re record might be.

It’s win or go home for the Raiders this weekend as they kick it off against the Coyotes at 1p.m. on Friday and finish it off on Sunday at the same time.