Area boys soccer teams recorded plenty of accolades last season. The challenge this year is to repeat the regular-season success – and go even deeper in the postseason.
The Springfield Millers finished 2024 with a 7-7-1 record and first in the Midwestern league.
The Class 5A Millers went 5-1 in league play, which earned them a spot in the playoffs. They lost 7-0 to Summit in the first round.
In 2025, the Millers plan to play with speed, using the depth on their roster to always have a fresh pair of legs on the field. The deep roster includes Bradly Velasquez Roblero, Jack Sayre, and Hayden Sayre. Velasquez Roblero was invaluable on offense in 2024, scoring six goals for the Millers. Now, as a senior, he’ll have the opportunity to score even more.
If Velasquez Roblero brings the offense, the Sayre brothers bring the energy. Fellow senior Hayden Sayre made multiple interceptions on defense last year, and continues to impress with his speed as one of the fastest on the team. His brother Jack – who is going into his junior season – scored five goals last season, all in key games.
These players – along with the other nine returners – hope to take the team back to the playoffs. For fifth-year coach Juan Gonzales, the way to get there is through team chemistry.
“This coming season, we need to keep our feet on the ground and our objectives high, because working together, we can achieve everything,” Gonzales said.
To win their league again, Springfield is going to have to keep an eye on the Ashland Grizzlies, who finished 7-7-2 (5-1) in 2024. If the Millers can beat Ashland and string together some key wins against non-league opponents like Corvallis and Ridgeview, the team has a good chance of making it back to the playoffs.
The Springfield Millers’ season starts on Sept. 4 against Ridgeview at 7 p.m. Tickets are free upon entry at Silke Field.
Thurston
Thurston’s boys (5-9) team finished fifth in the Midwestsern League last year, 2024. The Colts missed the playoffs after a 0-5 start.
Going into 2025, the team has a new coach with 13 upperclassmen returning.
Former head coach Jake Bonnett left the team after three seasons. He was 16-13-14.
Now, new coach Phil Sweeney takes the helm after coaching the boys’ JV team the past two years. Sweeney has worked with many of the underclassmen who look to make the leap to varsity this year. His familiarity with the players should help.
The Colts will likely need to finish top three in the Midwestern league to reach the playoffs. Thurston plays four of its six league games at home.
Cottage Grove
Class 4A Cottage Grove has been a dominant team the past few years, reaching the state championship game in 2023 and following up with a first-place finish in the Sky-Em League last season.
The Lions have been prolific under head coach Jaime Urenda’s tenure. Urenda sits at 26-7-3 after two years with the program with no plans of slowing down. Last season, the Lions suffered a heartbreaking 3-2 loss to Crook County in the quarterfinals. Typically, that would be a solid season, but for Urenda and the Lions, they wanted more.
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They’ll need a younger team to mature quickly. The Lions lost eight seniors at the end of last season. This has led to a relatively small returning contingent with only three starters coming back.
Despite this, Cottage Grove has its sights set on the playoffs yet again, and they have some fresh help.
The Lions have an exciting group of freshmen who hope to contribute immediately. These youngsters will have help from the Lions’ nine seniors, who were the vast majority of returning players.
“I’m excited for the season as we make another run with this group of seniors before we really start to rebuild next season. Unfortunately, our overall sign numbers were low, but we still have a solid foundation from the successes of the last two years,” Urenda said.
“Our goal this season is to win the league for a third time in a row and make it back to the state championship. I feel like we have the talent to accomplish our goals, but with some tough opponents right off the gates in Stayton and Henley, it’ll let us know where we are and how much we need to improve.”
Creswell
In Class 3A competition, Creswell is looking to build on its 11-3-1 record last year, which included a first-place finish in Special District 3.
After a 0-2-1 start to their 2024 season, the Bulldogs pulled off a dominant stretch of soccer, winning all 11 of their remaining games to win their first league title.
Riding high into the playoffs, it seemed all the momentum was on Creswell’s side. That was until Blanchet Catholic took them out in their playoff opener,2-1.
Although the end of last season was disappointing, the Bulldogs look to bounce back strong with a hungry group of upperclassmen. Creswell went undefeated in league play last season, and it’s possible they’ll do it again.
Head coach Brandi Wittenborn is going into her ninth year with the team, and her resume as the team’s coach just keeps getting better.
With her record sitting at 60-32-14, it’s clear Whittenborn has a recipe for success, and this could be the year she leads the team to a championship.
Non-league play is going to be a test for Creswell early in the season. If it can beat schools like Oregon Episcopal and St. Mary’s, Medford, the ceiling for Creswell soccer is sky high.
Pleasant Hill
Just down the road on Hwy. 58, Pleasant Hill was rebuilding in 2024. The team finished 4-9-2 and in 9th place in Special District 3.
The rebuilding process might continue in 2025. With only a maximum of 10 players eligible to return after five seniors left at the end of last year, the roster looks thin.
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Fortunately for Pleasant Hill, head coach Ryota Sugitani is a veteran coach with an established track record.
Sugitani is 50-33-15 at Pleasant Hill going into his eighth season.
To make the playoffs this season, Pleasant Hill will need major contributions from incoming freshmen immediately.
If they get that, along with development from key returning players, the team could make a quick turnaround this season.
BOYS SOCCER 2025
COTTAGE GROVE
HEAD COACH
■ Jaime Urenda in his third year at Cottage Grove … 26-3-5 Cottage Grove and career record.
2024 SEASON
■ Recap: 12-4, 7-1 in league play …1 st in Sky-Em League …Lost to Crook County 3-2 in the quarterfinals … No.6 in Class 4A.
TOP THREE GAMES
■vs. Stayton, Sept. 2, 6 p.m.
■vs. Henley, Sept. 5, 5 p.m
■vs. Marist, Sept. 24, 5 p.m.
Senior night
■vs. N. Bend, Oct. 22, 7 p.m.
TEAM BREAKDOWN
■ Varsity returners: 7
■ Returning starters: 3
TOP RETURNERS
■ Emmanuel Rea, Midfield, Sr.
Notes: First team all-league.
■ Elijah Smith, Defense, Sr.
Notes: Second team all-league.
■ Félix Garza, Defense Sr.
NOTABLE NEWCOMER
■ Daniel Torralba, Midfield, Fr.
TEAM STRENGTHS
■Great group of incoming freshmen and a solid support system to balance out the team.
■Big group of seniors (9)
■ Coach Urenda says: “I’m excited for the season as we make another run with this group of seniors before we really start to rebuild next season. Unfortunately, our overall sign numbers were low, but we still have a solid foundation from the successes of the last two years. Our goal this season is to win the league for a third time in a row (only the 2nd time since 2008 to do so) and make it back to a state championship (2 years ago). I feel like we have the talent to accomplish our goals but with some tough opponents right off the gates in Stayton and Henley (defending state champs) will let us know where we are and how much we would need to improve.”
CRESWELL
HEAD COACH
■ Brandi Wittenborn in her ninth year at Creswell … 60-32-14 Creswell and career record.
2024 SEASON
■ Recap: 11-3-1, 9-0 in league play, 1st in Special District 3…Lost to Blanchet Catholic 1-0 in the first round of playoffs….No. 9 in Class 3A.
TOP THREE GAMES
■at Pleasant Hill, Sept. 25, 4:30 p.m.
■vs. Sisters, Sept. 30, 6 p.m.
■at Santiam Christian, Oct. 2, TBD
TOP RETURNERS
■ Matthew Jenkins, Sr.
Notes: The rising senior played a big role in the Bulldogs’ Special District 3 title last season. He earned first-team all-league.
■ Brady Pratt, Jr.
Notes: Pratt earned first-team all-league honors in ‘24.
PLEASANT HILL
HEAD COACH
■ Ryota Sugitani in his eighth year at Pleasant Hill … 50- 33-15 Pleasant Hill and career record.
2024 SEASON
■ Recap: 4-9-2, 2-7 in league play … 9th in Special District 3 … Missed playoffs … No. 55 in Class 3A.
TOP THREE GAMES
■vs. Western Christian / Amity, Sept. 16, 4:30 p.m.
■vs. Creswell, Sept. 25, 4:30 p.m
■vs. Crosshill Christian / Jefferson, Oct. 9, 4:30 p.m.
TOP RETURNERS
■ Miles Marts, Sr.
■Spencer Smith, Sr.
■Seth Lebow, Sr.
SPRINGFIELD
HEAD COACH
■ Juan Gonzales in his fifth year at Springfield … 27-30-4 Springfield record and a 39-52-14 career record.
2024 SEASON
■ Recap: 7-7-1, 5-1 in league play…1st in Midwestern League..Lost to Summit 7-0 in the first round of playoffs…No. 18 Class 5A.
TOP THREE GAMES
■vs. Ridgeview, Sept. 4, 7 p.m.
■vs. Corvallis, Sept. 11, 7 p.m.
■vs. Churchill, Oct. 11, 7 p.m.
Senior night
■vs. Eagle Point, Oct. 18, 2:30 p.m.
TEAM BREAKDOWN
■ Varsity returners: 12
■ Returning starters: Forward (1), Midfielder (4), Defenders (3), GK (1)
TOP RETURNERS
■ Bradly Velasquez Roblero, No. 9, Sr.
Notes: Velasquez Roblero scored 6 goals last season.
■ Jack Sayre, No. 10, Jr.
Notes: Sayre scored 5 goals last season in key games
■ Hayden Sayre, No. 4, Sr.
Notes: Sayre made multiple interceptions last year on defense. Also, he is one of the fastest players on the team.
TEAM STRENGTHS
■A roster with depth, with about 12-14 talented players
■Experienced players
■Speed
■ Coach Gonzales says: “This coming season, we need to keep our feet on the ground and our objectives high, because working together, we can achieve everything.”
THURSTON
HEAD COACH
■ Phil Sweeney in his first year as head coach at Thurston.
2024 SEASON
■ Recap: 5-9, 2-4 in league play … 5th in Midwestern League …Missed playoffs … No. 27 in Class 5A.
TOP THREE GAMES
■vs. West Albany, Sept. 8, 6 p.m.
■vs. Ashland, Oct. 4, 3 p.m.
■vs. Springfield, Oct. 23, 6 p.m.
TOP RETURNERS
■Curtis Johnson, Sr.
■Tyler Raven, Sr.
■Dakota Hansen, Jr.
