By Jeremy McDonald

jeremymcdonald73@gmail.com

SALEM, Ore.– South Salem’s Marina Foster has committed to Pacific Lutheran University for soccer.

Foster was a first-team Mountain Valley Conference honoree and was part of a Saxons squad that went 4-2-1 in the MVC, finished third in the conference, while going 6-8-1 overall and had reached the opening round of the 6A Playoffs this past Fall.  South Salem went 5-3-1 down the stretch after starting the year 1-5.

In the three-years that Tillerman Kroon has coached the four-year Varsity starter, the Saxon Head Coach spoke highly of her game intelligence and her technical ability with her on-the-field playing style.

“Marina was a 4 year varsity starter, and high level contributor for the Saxons,” said Kroon.  “In the three years I coached her she hardly ever came off the field and lead the team in goals both her junior and senior seasons.

“Her playing style combines a high level of game intelligence with technical ability that I believe rivals anyone in our conference and a nonstop competitive drive. PLU is getting a player that will walk in ready to contribute at the next level and our program will miss her playing ability as well as her leadership and character.”

The Lutes, located in Tacoma, Washington, went 62-8-1 over the last four years and went 42-4-6 during that span in the Northwest Conference.  The NCAA Division-III team went 16-3-2 overall and 14-1-1 in the NWC and reached the opening round of the National Tournament before falling in OT to Trinity of Texas 2-1.