STAYTON, Ore.–  Dominance.

That’s what the OSAA Number One Team Stayton Eagle Boys Soccer team has done to this point entering Thursday’s match against Yamhill-Carlton.

The Eagles (7-0-2, 4-0-2 Oregon West Conference) will take their strong offense (3.5 Goals a game) against the Tigers (0-8-1, 0-5-1 OWC), who have allowed five goals a game defensively.

But Yamhill-Carlton is finding a groove however offensively.  In their last two games against Newport and North Marion, they’ve scored four goals total (two in each game) after two in their five games prior.  Their lone tie, against Estacada in a 3-3 game, the Tigers can score when given an opportunity to score.

The key has to be the Eagles not being complacent by Yamhill-Carlton’s winless record.  If they stick to their game plan, play strong defense against the Tigers, and take advantage of Yamhill-Carlton’s defense, then Stayton should be fine.

As for the Tigers, the game plan is to slow the Eagles offense while finding a groove quickly from the opening whistle and executing well on defense to keep Stayton off the board.

The opening kick is at 3:30pm at Stayton High School in Stayton.

Jeremy McDonald is a professional sports journalist in the Salem/Portland area and is a member of the Society of Professional Journalist in Oregon with B.S. degrees from Southern Oregon University in Journalism (2011) and Health/PE (2013).  Got a story idea? Email him at jeremymcdonald73@gmail.com or on Twitter at @J_McDonald81!