The story of Oregon Soar’s 2025 season continues to be one of flashes of brilliance, and the hunt to make that brilliance last four full quarters. In their Week 5 matchup on the road against the Bay Area Falcons, Soar once again showed they can compete at a high level, rallying from a steep deficit to nearly steal the game late. But ultimately, a slow second quarter and a few missed opportunities in the wind proved costly, as Oregon fell 15–12 in a gritty, gusty battle.
There were new sparks for Soar, and none brighter than the season debut of Clea Poklemba. The dynamic thrower wasted no time making her mark, giving the offense a new dimension with fearless deep shots that sliced through Bay Area’s tight defense. Her chemistry with standout cutter Jackie Riley was immediate and dangerous, and their connection helped ignite Soar’s early response after falling behind 0–2. Natalie Hancock also proved to be a valuable addition to the roster, bring a steady presence to the Soar backfield.
Despite continuing their pattern of sluggish starts, Soar quickly bounced back with a string of hucks into tight windows, Poklemba to Riley, Vogel to Egan, to take a 4–3 lead. But as the first quarter wound down, the wind began to rear its head, turning open looks into aerial mishaps. Han Chen of the Falcons made a big defensive play and then finished off the possession with a score, tying the game 4–4 at the first quarter buzzer.
From there, Bay Area clamped down. The second quarter belonged entirely to the Falcons, who ratcheted up their downfield pressure and stifled Oregon’s movement. Soar’s offense stagnated, pinned repeatedly in the backfield and forced into risky resets that didn’t always connect. Bay Area seized the moment, going on a 6-0 run and taking firm control of the game.
Jackie Riley finally broke the silence with a massive highlight catch and an assist to stop the bleeding. Poklemba continued to make an impact, rising up for an athletic sky late in the half to trim the deficit to 6–10 heading into the break.
When asked what’s been driving the team’s ability to claw back in tough games, Riley had this to say: "I have a lot of trust in my teammates." She then went on to say: "Locking in to our team systems and team identity has been huge."
Out of halftime, the teams traded punches. Mouse reeled in a full-extension layout grab for a Soar score, and Robyn Fennig responded for the Falcons, capping her deep score with a stylish bow and arrow celebration. But Soar wasn't done. With renewed energy and sharper execution, they launched a fourth-quarter charge.
WUL rookie Sylvi Barnes made the play of the day with a gigantic layout block and subsequent assist. Poklemba and Julianna Galian found a rhythm, linking up on multiple deep strikes to fuel a furious string of breaks. The defense tightened and brought a hush over the crowd. Oregon clawed all the way back to 12–14. A comeback was well within reach.
But in the closing minutes, Bay Area slowed the pace, worked the clock, and held their ground. Oregon couldn’t quite find the final break they needed, and the Falcons walked away with a hard-fought win.
Still, it was another step forward for a Soar squad that continues to grow week by week, fighting, adjusting, and proving that they belong.
To take the next step and break into the winning column, Soar will need to find the consistency that they have been missing. They’ve shown they can go toe-to-toe with elite teams for long stretches, but now the challenge is sustaining that level from opening pull to final whistle. With a bye week ahead, they’ll have a valuable window to regroup, sharpen their systems, and lock in as they prepare for a rematch against the very same Falcons, this time at home in front of their fans on Sunday, May 4th.
Written by Avi Taylor