With only three seniors departing, La Grande’s Lyndie Isaacson leads a large contingent of returnees as the Tigers take to the soccer field next season.

LA GRANDE — The La Grande girls soccer team allowed just 14 goals all season, but it was the 14th — and final one — that hurt as the seventh-seeded Tigers suffered a 1-0 upset at the hands of 10th-seeded North Bend on Tuesday, Oct. 31, in the first round of the OSAA Class 4A state playoffs.

North Bend was able to convert very few shots on the La Grande goal into the one goal that counted. For the Tigers, multiple opportunities ended up with the ball failing to find the net.

“We didn’t give them many chances, but they did capitalize on the one,” La Grande head coach Chris Gianandrea said. “We had six or more shots on their goal and created an additional six opportunities that just did not make it in.”

One goal, a score that would have tied the match, was waived off by officials in a questionable offsides call. Even with the loss, a first year with the Tigers was a success for Gianandrea.

“I am very happy with what we accomplished,” said Gianandrea of his first year at the helm of La Grande. “We started the year having to move some people around due to a large group of seniors graduating last year. A perfect example is Mazie Wilcox moving to center back. She handled it seamlessly and I can’t say enough about our defense.”

Looking toward the future, half the starters on this year’s squad were sophomores and the Tigers lose only Wilcox, Kaitlin Brock and Abi Jorgenson to graduation.

“The great thing is so many coming back are so versatile and can play multiple slots,” Gianandrea said. “And in a game where it is so important, we have Lyndie Isaacson coming back as goalie. I think she is one of the best in the 4A ranks statewide.”

La Grande hands in their uniforms after a 9-4-1 overall record, including a 4-1-1 Greater Oregon League record and a league title.