Part 4

Part 3

Part 2

Part 1

The defending 4A State Champion Newport Boys Soccer team (3-0) hosts the visiting South Albany Rebels (3-1) later today from Morrow Field, and it will be an opportunity for the Cubs to avenge their only loss from last year’s incredible season. When Newport Head Coach Ollie Richardson was asked about this game, he said “That will be a big test for our team leading into our league season against some of the best teams in the state”.

Leading the way for the Cubs is senior center mid-fielder and team captain Romario “Roma” Mendoza and junior goalkeeper Luis Reyes.

Mendoza was a 2nd Team All-League selection last year and led the team with 11 assists. He also scored 4 goals. “I feel like our season is going pretty good. We still haven’t reached our full potential so it’s exciting to see our next few games” he says, “Slowly we are getting in playoff mode.”

A two-year Captain, Mendoza will once again be looked to for team leadership. An all-around player who is fun to watch and has the ability to make a huge impact for the Cubs, his coach says he “wears his heart and soul on his sleeve every day. He worked extremely hard after the season was over last year and wants to continue playing soccer in college.”

Luis “Whilo” Reyes was a 2nd Team All-State Goalkeeper in 2016. He capped off a stellar season by blocking 2 of 4 penalty kicks in the State Championship game vs, Madras, helping the Cubs secure the win for their first state soccer title in school history.

“South Albany was the only team that was able to defeat us (last year) and it was a very competitive game. The last time we met we lost 3:0 at their home” Reyes says, “Knowing that most of their team is full of upperclassmen, I know that they are well experienced and their team chemistry is like no other team that we’ll face”

The Cubs and Rebels face off at 6:00 pm today, live on OregonSportsBeat.com.