East Oregonian
IRRIGON — Two months ago, no one on the Irrigon soccer team expected to be where they are now. The team comprised 10 players including both boys and girls — one fewer than a regulation soccer lineup — and there wasn’t even a coach in place.
Despite the early season adversity, the Irrigon Knights (7-3, 7-3 SD5) won for the fifth consecutive time Saturday, besting Grant Union 3-1 on two second-half goals by Fernando Barreras. The victory guaranteed the Knights a finish no worse than third in the Special District 5 standings. The placing comes with a ticket to the state’s 16-team postseason tournament, the Knights’ lofty preseason goal.
“After all the work that we’ve put in, qualifying for the state (tournament) is the prize,” said Jose Romero, the former junior varsity coach for Umatilla who stepped up less than a week before the season started to coach the Irrigon team.