By Jeremy McDonald

jeremymcdonald73@gmail.com

SALEM, Ore.– 2022 Dayton-grad Benji Hudson is picking up where he left off when he was a Pirate.

His aggressive play was there, using his basketball skills at points to go up against Chemeketa defender Braydon Daliposon, who had about a ten-inch advantage on the Southwestern Oregon Community College freshman.  That freshman showing that size doesn’t matter entirely when it comes to game time as he slid for balls, bumped elbows and battled in the Lakers 3-1 win over the Storm.

“It’s awesome.  Being that one person on the field who people look at like ‘oh he’s small, he’s short, he won’t be able to do anything and going out there and making a difference, it’s awesome,” Hudson said.  

Having played in all three games, seeing significant time in each game off the bench for the sophomore heavy Laker squad, Hudson is embracing it as SWOCC have already tripled their win total from 2021 at this point of the season. Hudson has taken three shorts with one at goal with Southwestern Oregon opened NWAC South Region play in Salem.

“I just get to live my dream and play soccer, it’s all I could ask for,” Hudson said.  “We’re having a better start than last year.  Last year we didn’t win a single game and this year we’re 3-0, just continuing to work hard and playing our game.  It’ll be a good season for us.”

The Lakers host Lane on September 14 at 1:30pm.

Photos By Jeremy McDonald