HALSEY, Ore. – The Creswell girls soccer team walked onto Central Linn Elementary School’s field on Friday looking to cool off one of the hottest high school teams in Special District 3 – the Class 2A Cobras.
It was no small task. Central Linn, the defending league champions, is coming off a 16-1-1 season – their only loss coming in the state title game against Caitlin Gabel. The Cobras have used that loss as motivation this year, charging to a 9-0-1 record and No. 1 ranking.
The 11th-ranked Bulldogs, however, were undeterred, and earned a hard-fought 2-1 upset that handed the Cobras their first loss of the season.
“It doesn’t matter who they are or what the team is,” said coach Brandi Wittenborn, who coaches boys and girls varsity soccer at Creswell. “Something I teach for both of my teams is that every giant can be knocked off.”
The game featured the top teams battling for the Special District 3 league title. Both teams are tied at 8-1-1 in Special District 3 with 45 goals scored.
Goalkeeper Kylie Leonard recorded eight saves in the first half and two in the second half. ALL PHOTOS BY CRAIG STROBECK.
The last time the Bulldogs earned a league title was in 2016 in Special District 4.
Now, the Bulldogs only need to set themselves up for success as they make their way through the second matchups against the rest of their league foes – Siuslaw, Pleasant Hill, Santiam Christian, and Sisters – as the postseason nears.
“We just need to keep working on what we’re lacking,” Wittenborn said about the prospect of winning the league title. “Every practice, that’s what we do. The key is moving the ball – if you can’t do that, you won’t succeed. We want to finish at the top of the league and prepare for a state run.”
Last year, the Bulldogs tied 2-2 against Central Linn early in the season and then lost 2-1 in the rematch.
Last Friday, the Bulldogs struggled to keep the ball on the ground. In addition, the Cobras led in time of possession for the first half, mostly on Creswell’s side of the field – which had the defenders working overtime.
Elliette Kinney, however, broke open the game when she scored on a penalty kick.
The 1-0 lead was short-lived as Addie Wolff scored on a penalty kick about 10 minutes later. Both teams played a physical game, resulting in penalty kicks and yellow cards.
With the game tied 1-1 at halftime, Wittenborn tried to settle down her team, she said.
In a match full of physical play and yellow cards, both teams fought hard until Creswell secured a 2-1 victory. Elliette Kinney (No. 11) put the Bulldogs on the board with the first goal of the first half. ALL PHOTOS BY CRAIG STROBECK
“We just talked about the adjustments we needed to make – covering those holes, marking up, and shifting with the ball,” she said. “Once they did that, they passed and moved a lot better in the second half.”
The Bulldogs managed more shots on goal in the second half and leading scorer Mila Nguyen broke through with a goal to make it 2-1. Creswell was granted a direct kick and Nguyen shot a curved ball that soared up and then downwards over Central Linn’s goalkeeper, which had the Creswell fans ecstatic from the sidelines.
Mila Nguyen (No. 9) delivered the game-winning goal on a beautiful curved ball that flew into the back of the net. ALL PHOTOS BY CRAIG STROBECK
Wittenborn said the key to victory was treating it like every other game: with a high level of play.
“We can’t count any team out,” she said. “I told the girls from the get-go, if we play together, we can compete with anyone. There’s no team that we can’t compete with if we play together. That’s the key – it’s not a one-man show. The whole team has to do their job in order for us to achieve the goal.”
Double-duty
Wittenborn took on the girls team midway though the season when Dan Smathers, who had coached the girls for the past nine years, unexpectedly stepped down for the rest of the season. Wittenborn said she didn’t intend to take on two teams in her final season.
Wittenborn
“It’s unfortunate Dan is out,” she said. “He’s done a lot for the team over the years. He stepped in and took over the team. I actually begged him years ago – they weren’t gonna have anybody. And so he stepped in, and I’m really sad to see him not be here, but hopefully I can make him proud.”
The abrupt coaching change hasn’t impacted the players’ performance. Wittenborn isn’t a stranger after coaching in the Creswell community for 33 years. She also said her discipline and high expectations have complemented the team well so far.
Despite the abrupt changes this season, the Bulldogs continue to show a deep sense of unity and camaraderie. ALL PHOTOS BY CRAIG STROBECK
“I think it helps that they know me,” she said. “I’ve been around the Creswell community for a long time. Also, since I have been coaching for so long, I know how to pull the best out of each individual player. I also expect excellence at practice. That’s one thing I emphasized while stepping up – to impress upon these girls that they’re capable of more than what they’re putting out; I expect them to raise their level.
One coaching thing about me is that I hate losing.”
Wittenborn said she’s grateful to have had the opportunity to coach the girls team. And both teams have been successful in the 2025 season thus far with a top 10 ranking. The No. 11 boys team is 9-2 and in position for a league title. After the girls’ win over Central Linn’s victory, they are 9-1-1.
There is a real possibility of both the girls and the boys team earning Special District 3 titles side-by-side under Wittenborn.
Wittenborn and the boys team will hold a farewell celebration before their Central Linn game Thursday, Oct. 16. When discussing her final coaching year, Wittenborn got a little misty eyed.
“It’s been 33 years of coaching – I’ve got grandbabies now, and I want to create a new generation of tough kids,” she said. “I think I’ve done my job in this community. I’m ready to finally take a vacation after 33 years – I’ve never had one, and that’s my goal.”
