Lakeridge's 8-0 rout advances Pacers to sixth straight quarterfinal
Junior Jackson Romero scored four goals as the No. 4 seed dismantled West Linn on Tuesday, setting up a Saturday matchup with Lake Oswego.
By Andrew Bennett ·
Lakeridge boys soccer advanced to the state quarterfinals for the sixth consecutive year after an 8-0 victory over West Linn on Tuesday, Nov. 3, at Lakeridge High School. The decisive win improved the No. 4 Pacers to a 12-1-1 overall record and secured their spot in the next round of the Class 6A tournament.
Junior forward Jackson Romero led the scoring effort with four goals. He also assisted on another goal, contributing directly to five of the team's eight scores. Senior forward Callum Morrison opened the scoring and added a second goal, while senior Liam Kutella and sophomore Milan Masic also found the back of the net.
The match featured a rapid scoring sequence following a slow start. West Linn held a 0-0 tie through the first 17 minutes, with senior captain Jonas Taylor registering the first shot on goal. The game broke open when Morrison converted a 20-yard free kick with 22:36 remaining in the first half. Romero then added three more goals in quick succession to extend the lead to 4-0 before the half ended.
The second half extended the gap to 8-0, with the final goal coming in the 70th minute. The game was called early with 9:36 left on the clock. Lakeridge head coach and players emphasized consistency as a key factor, noting that the team must maintain this level of play throughout the remainder of the playoffs to reach the state final.
West Linn finished the season with an 8-6-3 record after its two-game winning streak ended. The Lions had reached the second round of the playoffs despite graduating 14 seniors the previous spring. Senior captain Sam Leedy said the team was proud to remain competitive after losing many upperclassmen, while Taylor noted that six players had no prior varsity experience this season.
The Lakeridge squad now prepares for a crosstown rivalry match against Lake Oswego on Saturday, Nov. 7. The Lakers enter the quarterfinals with an 11-4-1 record after defeating No. 5 Beaverton, the 2025 state champion, 1-0 on Tuesday. Both teams earned their quarterfinal berths on the same day, setting up a high-stakes local contest for a spot in the state semifinals.
