Riverhawk girls pound Pendleton, tie with Scappoose

THE DALLES — The Dalles High goalkeeper Olivia Prado, one of six seniors on this year’s girls soccer team, deserved the game ball after her performance Sept. 3 at Scappoose.

The host Indians outshot The Dalles, 17-1, but thanks to a stingy Riverhawk defense, the match ended in a 0-0 tie. Scappoose was the team The Dalles beat, 2-1, in the semifinals of the 2025 OSAA Class 4A state playoffs.

The rematch was equally as close, and nothing like the 8-0 drubbing The Dalles handed Pendleton in the Riverhawks’ other match the first week of the season on Sept. 1.

Under sunny skies on the turf field at Scappoose, the best scoring chance for The Dalles came in the first half on a crossing pass off a free kick. The ball, sailing from right to left, crossed the goal mouth and was a bit too high for Genesee Jones to get a header. A couple of yards or so to her left (in line with the left post), Alondra Romero got her foot on the ball but her shot went wide right.

That was, arguably, the lone threat for The Dalles, despite the two teams sharing offensive possession in the first half. The second half was a lot different. Scappoose controlled play after intermission, with 12 shots on goal following halftime. Prado was solid with 10 saves. Two more shots were cleared by defenders.

There were two gems from the defensive back line of the Riverhawks — one which saved what looked like a sure, first-half Scappoose goal. A Scappoose service from the left side was misplayed as the ball crossed the goal mouth. In the ensuing scramble, Prado came off her line and slid to block a shot attempt. The ball got past her and was slowly rolling toward the right corner. Freshman defender Paisley Withrow chased down the ball and back footed it clear before it could cross the line.

In the second half, Kaiya Doty stepped in front of a shot from five yards away, blocked it off her legs and then took a “way-to-go” from Prado as the ball ricocheted harmlessly over the end line.

The Dalles returns to the pitch Sept. 10 with another non-league match at Stayton. The Riverhawks will complete their pre-league schedule with a match, Sept. 19 at Astoria.