By Jeremy McDonald

jeremymcdonald73@gmail.com

STAYTON, Ore.-–  Win.  Just one win away.

One win seperates the OSAA Number One Stayton High School Boys Soccer team from winning the Oregon West Conference entering Tuesday’s match against Philomath (4-9, 4-5 OWC).

There is no game plan said Eagles Head Coach Chris Shields, just to go out and get the ‘W’.

“(There’s) no game plan, we just want to win,” Shields said.  “We need to win in order to secure the league title and the best spot possible in the state tournament.”

Stayton recently regained the number one spot in the OSAA from Sisters High School following their 3-0 shutout over Cascade Thursday that saw Ivan Navarro scored once and Alfredo “Freddy” Navarro scored twice in the contest.

But there is an interesting twist to Tuesday’s game for the Eagles.  If Stayton wins tomorrow, the win would give the program its sixth-straight OWC title.

Even though it’ll be great to win six said Shields, they can’t overlook the Warriors despite their 4-9 record.

“Its important to the program, it validates a lot of hard work put in by players and coaches,” Shields said about the thought of winning six straight.  “We still have to win yet, Philomath is a solid team that can be trouble.”

Philomath had a tough preseason schedule that features OSAA number two Sisters, Number nine Molalla and battled the OWC third-place Cascade this season, scoring seven goals on the Cougars in 2015.

In their first meeting, the Warriors battled the Eagles in the 4-1 loss and Philomath is looking to end their season on a high note by trying to knock Stayton off the number one spot and ruin their OWC-Title Hopes.

But it all comes down to Tuesday afternoon at Stayton High School.  Kickoff is at 3:30pm.

OSAA TOP FIVE BOYS SOCCER

1.) Stayton (10-0-2, 7-0-1 Oregon West Conference)

2.) Sisters (12-0-1, 10-0 Sky ‘Em Conference)

3.) North Marion (11-1-1, 7-1-1 Oregon West Conference)

4.) Henley (10-1-2, 9-1 Skyline Conference)

5.) North Bend (14-1, 9-1 Far West League)

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!