Under second-year coach Josh Westermann, Sandy has become one of the state's fastest-rising girls soccer programs.
The Pioneers ended a six-year playoff drought last year, finishing 8-4-3 after falling in the 6A first round. They dropped to 5A this season and are thriving, outscoring opponents 18-0 in a 6-0 start that has vaulted them to No. 3 in the OSAAtoday 5A coaches poll.
Westermann – a former college head coach at Columbia Basin, San Diego Christian and Warner Pacific – said he believed the team was “building for something special” this season after making a leap in 2025.
“It's not surprising at all,” he said. “This was expected by all the players and myself and the other coaches. We built a good system and culture and tactics, and all those things kind of came together. We've got some really special players, too.”
Sandy brought back seven starters from last season, among them sophomore forward Jamela Turin, who scored a team-high 13 goals. In six games this season, Turin already has a team-high seven goals and five assists.
“She never gives up. She's so persistent,” Westermann said. “Every play, every tackle, every header, getting back on defense … she just plays with a fire and passion that you don't see very often.”
Turin combines up front with senior forward Alix Flowers, a Mt. Hood Conference all-star the last three seasons. Flowers has four goals and seven assists this season.
“The two of them are a dynamic duo up there,” Westermann said.
Senior center back Claire Parks, a three-time first-team all-conference selection, anchors a back line that has been airtight in front of senior goalkeeper Hannah Winans. The Pioneers did not allow a shot in a 2-0 home win over 6A Mt. Hood Conference power Barlow, a team they went 0-6-1 against in the MHC from 2018 to 2025.
“It's a great defense, but it's also our tactics and just how we play and move as a team,” Westermann said. “It's really hard to break down.”
Senior attacking midfielder Laila Kitchen has three goals and three assists. Junior Jill Faris sparks the attack with crosses from the wing. The starting lineup often features four or five freshmen, including two on the back line in Naomi Altman and Mary Skoro.
“They're young, but they've gelled really well together,” Westermann said.
Last week, Sandy edged 6A McDaniel 1-0 in a battle of unbeaten teams. The Pioneers got the winning goal with four minutes left on a 20-yard free kick by Parks, who has a knack for such shots.
Sandy faces two big road tests against 6A teams this week. They visit No. 10 West Linn (2-4-1), the reigning Three Rivers League champion, on Tuesday and meet Sherwood (3-4) on Thursday. They start Northwest Oregon Conference play Oct. 7 at home against Centennial (3-2-1).
“We're going in with a lot of respect for those teams and hope we can pull out some results away from home,” Westermann said. “We could have a much easier schedule and be fine with that, but we're challenging ourselves. We wanted to make sure to get some real competitive games because the girls showed they could play with anybody last year.”
Westermann played at Oregon City (2002 graduate) and Gonzaga University before a 10-year pro career. His coaching resume includes a two-year stint under Steve Fennah at Jesuit, helping the Crusaders win the 6A girls title in 2010.
He left college coaching to spend more time with his family and began teaching at Sandy. When the coaching position opened up last year, many parents encouraged him to apply, some who had daughters that played club soccer for him.
“I just thought of it as giving back,” he said. “I could be coaching elsewhere, but I wanted to be here.”
Highlights from the past week:
Girls
Catlin Gabel, ranked No. 1 in 3A/2A/1A, won 1-0 at No. 2 Oregon Episcopal on Sept. 25, giving the Eagles (9-0) their second victory over the rival Aardvarks (5-2-1) this season. Alana Hill scored in the 59th minute, assisted by Ruby Wohlgemuth, and goalkeeper Sydney Perlewitz made a save on a breakaway. … Grant, No. 6 in 6A, handed 5A No. 1 North Eugene its first loss by going on the road for a 2-0 victory Sept. 22. Cambria Litwinczuk and Naomi Kress scored for the Generals. … North Eugene bounced back two days later with a 3-1 win at Wilsonville in a 5 A nonleague game, getting two goals from Payton Buschelman. … Nora Welch's penalty kick on the 78th minute gave No. 6 Klamath Union a 1-1 draw with No. 4 Henley in a 4A Skyline Conference match Sept. 23. The Hornets' goal came in the third minute on a header by Allie Janney off an assist from Macie Schultz. …
No. 2 The Dalles/Dufur posted a big win in the 4A Tri-Valley Conference, rolling at No. 8 Gladstone 7-0 on Sept. 24. Ariana Gonzalez and Lilyana Gonzalez each scored twice for the Riverhawks (4-0-1), who have outscored their opponents 20-0 this season. … No. 3 Central Catholic topped No. 7 Lakeridge 1-0 at home in a 6A nonleague match Sept. 24. Sophie Naulty scored 40 seconds into the second half off a feed from Annie Charbonneau. … Unranked Crescent Valley defeated No. 7 Churchill 5-1 in a 5A nonleague game Sept. 22. Kaitlyn Hughes notched a hat trick and Elizabeth Merten scored twice.
Boys
Unranked Sherwood took down 6A No. 1 Lakeridge 3-2 in a nonleague home game Sept. 22. Jacob Chou scored twice for the Bowmen, including the game-winner, off an assist from Ian Weisenfluh, in the second half. Maddox Saecho had a goal and Kai Brown saved a first-half penalty kick for Sherwood. … Reigning 6A champion Beaverton rebounded from a 3-1 loss to Lakeridge with 1-0 road wins over 5A No. 5 La Salle Prep and 6A No. 4 Grant. Luke Unruh scored in the 55th minute against La Salle Prep and Jackson Wilde struck in the 70th minute against Grant. … No. 2 Cascade turned back No. 7 North Marion 2-0 in a 4A nonleague match Sept. 22. Liam Clausen and Adan Martinez provided the goals for the host Cougars (6-0), who have outscored their foes 37-1. …
Gus Eisenberg had two goals to lead 6A No. 9 Lincoln past 5A No. 4 Centennial 3-0 on the road Sept. 22. … No. 4 Oregon Episcopal earned a 2-2 tie at No. 1 Catlin Gabel in a 3A nonleague match Sept. 25, one week after falling at home to the Eagles 7-2 in Special District 1 play. Catlin Gabel led 2-1 on goals by Liam Travers and Mason Campbell but Oregon Episcopal drew even with about 10 minutes left. … Vala Saghafi's two goals propelled 6A No. 3 Jesuit to a 3-0 home win over La Salle Prep on Sept. 24. … It was a big week for 2A/1A No. 9 C.S. Lewis Academy, which tied at No. 1 Grand View Christian 5-5 on Sept. 22 and won 3-1 at home over No. 2 Faith Bible/Life Christian two days later. Ezra Cantrall and Isaac Owen each scored twice against Grand View Christian. Cantrall also found the net against Faith Bible/Life Christian.
jerryu@osaa.org
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