Sunset Girls Advance in Playoffs After 2-0 Win Over Forest Grove

The October chill set the stage for a tense second-round matchup in the OSAA state playoffs, a contest where neither team could find an early rhythm on the pitch.

Sunset High School defeated Forest Grove 2-0 on Saturday, October 31, at Sunset High School to advance in the tournament. The scoreline belied the intensity of the first hour, as both sides struggled to create clear-cut scoring chances against disciplined defenses.

The deadlock held until the 61st minute when Riley Weaks broke through for the Apollos. Thirteen minutes later, the margin of victory doubled after Weaks delivered a corner kick that Brooke Roskowski directed into the net. Both goals followed a long stretch of defensive pressure that kept the first half scoreless.

Forest Grove, who had earned their spot in this round by defeating North Medford in penalty kicks on October 27, created their best early chance in the 22nd minute. Sunset’s first-half efforts were repeatedly stopped by Vikings senior goalkeeper Gleixi Sanchez, who denied quality shots in the 22nd, 37th, and 39th minutes.

Sunset head coach Jim Maine attributed the second-half surge to his team’s ability to manage frustration. He noted that the players stopped forcing the play and allowed the game to develop naturally. Maine emphasized that patience was the key factor, stating that the first goal unlocked the rest of the performance.

"I think the biggest part for us was just becoming patient," Maine said. "Instead of becoming frantic and worrying about the outcome, we just let things flow in the second half. It was just one of those games where the first goal was going to open things up."

Forest Grove head coach Ignacio Olvera praised his squad for sticking to a game plan that prioritized a clean first half. Although the strategy did not yield a result, Olvera expressed pride in the effort of a young roster that includes 15 freshmen and sophomores. He viewed the experience as a critical step in the team's development.

"The plan we had was working. We wanted to keep it 0-0 in the first half, then try and get them in the second half, but it didn't quite work out. It was a battle and I'm very proud of these girls," Olvera said.

Sunset’s roster features 15 seniors, a depth that Maine credits for the team's stability. He highlighted the close bond within the squad, noting that the group has avoided internal conflicts throughout the season. Weaks echoed this sentiment, describing the team dynamic as familial rather than purely competitive.

The victory caps a challenging late-season stretch for Sunset, which lost consecutive games to Mountainside and Jesuit before the playoffs. Maine said those losses, particularly the defensive structure used against Jesuit, helped the team refine its approach heading into the postseason. The Apollos will look to carry that momentum as the bracket moves forward.