By Jeremy McDonald
Jeremymcdonald73@gmail.com
HILLSBORO, Ore. — The Stayton Curse has officially came to an end.
Through the years of first-round heartbreaks and second-place finishes, they stared down the Curse and overcame it in PK against Tillamook, then again in a shootout against Klamath Union and then one more time against longtime Oregon West Conference foe North Marion.
All to reach the mountain top one more time and be crowned as State Champions.
It’s the first-time since their Covid-shortened Title in 2021, but officially in a normal season since 2010 as they defeated longtime Oregon West Conference foe North Marion 1-0
And it took until the second half before the Eagles broke onto the scoreboard. They took 12 first half shots, seeing the Huskies Jaden Ortiz Paredes saving four shots, as North Marion kept the Stayton offense off the board.
“Just playing as a team. Just keeping our defense in line,trying to clear the ball and everything,” said the Huskies Elias Rivera.
But the Eagles kept grinding and putting pressure on the Huskie defense. North Marion did the same as they looked for the games first goal of the game with a few more rallies in the second half.
Stayton broke through in during the 50th minute when freshman Cesar Perez once again proved clutched as he poked a goal by Ortiz Paredes to put the Eagles ahead 1-0.
Their defense continued to be as locked down as they had been despite the few more runs that North Marion was creating. Bending compare to the firsr half, but they didn’t break as they pitched their 11th shutout of the season.
“This is probably the best defense that we had in a while. I think we played the best tonight than ever this season,” saod Stayton’s Ty Williams. “We were playing intense the whole game…but at the end of the day we were trying to get the ball up the whole game.”
For this group of seniors, it was a blessing. Four years, waiting to get to this point, and they finally got it done.
“These four years have been pretty rough, but we were using it as motivation for nexy year. This is truly a blessing what we’re experiencing right now and after our hard work, I feel like we deserve it,” said the Eagles Johnny Garcia.
“It’s really heartwarming. I’ve worked four years with this team so we can be here and it took us four years to get here,” adds Willams, who had three saves in the win. “I’m really proud of the team that we got to this moment. “
Ortiz Paredes had a game-high six saves as North Marion’s Cinderella run as a ten-seed ended just shy of a State Title. But theor group of seniors left a legacy as well.
They were part of four of the last five Huskie squads to reach the 4A State Semifinals and part of two State Finalist. This group has proved that they can get to this point, now it is up to those behind them to continue it and hopefully reach the mountain top themselves.
“To win it. That we’re setting the path thay it can be done. We can get here and we can win it all,” said Rivera.
Photos By Jeremy McDonald
