Oregon Soar lost a hard-fought 11 to 9 battle to the Bay Area Falcons on Saturday, but not before giving their home crowd plenty to cheer about. The stands were packed once again, as families, fans, and friends turned the game into an electric community event. The support for pro ultimate in Oregon is real. What remains is translating that energy into a win on the field.
From the opening pull, it was clear that conditions would shape the game. Strong swirling wind turned clean offensive possessions into battles of attrition. The first quarter was rocky, with both teams struggling to find flow. Soar’s defense came out hungry and kept up that intensity for the entire game. Wren Vogel and Clea Poklemba each came up with early blocks, and Eliana Norton laid out for back-to-back bids, just missing the first but coming down with a highlight-reel block on the second.
Despite generating multiple break chances, Soar could not convert. Their deep game, a staple of earlier success, was largely neutralized by the wind. Hucks floated away from receivers or trailed out of bounds. The first quarter ended 1 to 1 and the tone was set. The game was going to be a grind.
The second and third quarters were where the game slipped away for Soar. Bay Area’s experience shone through as the Falcon's veteran handlers helped steady the team and find rhythm, while Oregon continued to battle the gusts. Missed connections on deep looks and turnovers near the goal line proved costly. Bay Area took advantage, stringing together a 9 to 3 run and building a commanding 10 to 4 lead heading into the final quarter.
But Soar once again proved to be a team of fighters.
The fourth quarter belonged to Oregon. Julianna Galian provided a spark with two skillful catches on away shots to get the ball rolling. The deep game which had largely eluded the team through the first 3 quarters finally came alive. Poklemba came up with a run-through block on an under and sped past the defense to reel in a big huck from Riley. The crowd surged with energy and cheers as Oregon fought their way back into the game.
For a moment, the comeback felt within reach.
But as has been the case in earlier games, the effort was just a little too late. Time expired before Oregon could close the gap.
With the loss, Soar falls to 0 and 4 and is now officially out of playoff contention. Still, the season is far from over. The remaining games are about growth, identity, and setting the foundation for the future. In their inaugural season, this team has shown they can defend at a high level against elite competition. They can generate pressure and come up with big plays. And perhaps most importantly, they have shown they can rally a passionate and growing fan base, filling the stands with energy and support. But the question now is whether they can build consistency on offense, especially in red zone opportunities and in their resets, where missed chances have been the difference in close games. How the team responds now will shape not just the rest of this season, but the confidence and momentum they carry into year two.
Soar will have an opportunity to test their resilience this week. On Saturday, May 10, Soar heads to San Diego to face the Superbloom, a team tied for a league leading 4 - 0 record. San Diego has been dominant on both sides of the disc and will present Oregon with their toughest challenge of the season. First pull is set for 4 p.m.
It is a daunting matchup, but one that could mark a turning point as Soar continues to forge its identity.
Written by Avi Taylor