Oregon Soar made their home debut this past weekend in front of a roaring crowd, taking on the Colorado Alpenglow in what turned into a riveting, back-and-forth contest.
Fans of all ages traveled from across the state to cheer on their home team. Kids and adults alike got their faces painted and tossed discs in the family-friendly fun zone, while folks lined up for brats from Altengartz and beverages from Where’s Coffee Girl and Chehalem Valley Brewing.
The sun was beaming. At least one fan learned the hard way that sunscreen and face paint don’t mix, smearing their Soar-themed design into a hilarious, swirling, greenish blur. It was one moment among many that added to the charm of a day full of warmth, laughter, and community spirit. The Oregon ultimate community welcomed Soar with open arms and hearty cheers.
The game began with promise. On the opening possession, Kimber Coles rose above a defender to snag a contested disc, setting up a Rachel Egan assist. Oregon’s downfield flow was crisp early, with continuation cuts arriving on time and the disc moving smoothly from cutter to cutter. But the rhythm faltered once Soar looked to swing the disc back into the middle of the field. Their first two turnovers came on the first resets of the opening points.
Despite standout defensive plays from WUL rookies Jackie Riley and Julianna Galian in the deep space, Soar struggled to convert early break chances into scores.
Even amid the miscues, Oregon flashed moments of brilliance. Zoe Luke climbed the ladder for a spectacular grab over a crowd on a floaty jump ball. Eliana Norton launched a fearless, arcing backhand into space, and Julia Butterfield went full-extension for the highlight-reel catch.
But Colorado stayed composed. A 2–2 tie ballooned into an 8–3 deficit as Soar’s chemistry wobbled under pressure on a windy afternoon. For a moment, it looked like we were in for a repeat of last week’s lopsided loss in Seattle.
After halftime, though, Soar emerged with a new edge.
Defender Emma Bartlett said coaches “made some effective changes that helped us respond to Colorado’s defense.” It showed. Oregon’s O-line returned with poise, and Coles set the tone by hauling in a deflected disc at the goal line to trim the lead to 12–6.
But it was Soar’s D-line that turned the game into a thriller.
Moments later, Holly Gibson launched a huck to cash in Oregon’s first break of the game. Momentum began to snowball. Noelle Takahashi, who earned WUL Player of the Week honors for her incredible performance, jumped a lane for a sneaky block and quickly followed it with an assist. The crowd erupted as the score tightened to 13–9. On the next point, Takahashi reached into her bag for a saucy off-hand backhand flip to Coles, who reeled in Soar’s third consecutive break.
The energy inside the stadium surged. Chants of “SOOOOOAAAAOREGON” echoed as fans stomped and cheered, shaking the stands. The bleachers bounced with electricity. The stadium buzzed with smiles on the faces of players and fans alike. The wait is finally over. Oregon professional women’s ultimate is back baby.
Feeding off the crowd, Soar ran down the next pull hungry to keep the break train rolling. Soar coaches dialed up a four-person cup which forced another crucial turnover. Sprite punched in a score with an upfield assist, narrowing the gap even further. Suddenly the score was 14–12, the closest it had been since early in the opening quarter.
When asked about playing at home for the first time, Emma Bartlett shared: “It’s totally nerve-wracking to know people are watching, and doubly so when it’s people you know, but I love taking all that excited energy and channeling it towards my fire on defense.”
She also reflected on how the team bounced back after Week One in Seattle: “A lot of little things. We had some trouble with timing between points and calling our defense before the pull, so we all adjusted to hustle to the line faster and got more instruction from coaches so that we felt less scrambled.”
In the end, Oregon’s comeback lost steam, and Colorado managed to slow the tempo and bleed the clock, ultimately closing out a 17–14 win. But Soar can hold their heads high knowing they made their home fans proud. After falling behind early, they showed resilience and resolve that was missing in Week One. Their second-half surge forced Colorado to earn every point. One thing is clear: Soar is starting to find their groove.
This was the day Oregon Soar showed they belong.
Emma Bartlett shared her final takeaway:
“We can perform really well against tough opponents. So much is in our control,” Bartlett said. “I think it really comes down to believing in ourselves and each other.”
Roster Update: Boyden Steps Away
One major change moving forward will be the absence of team captain and offensive handler Geli Boyden. A steadying presence in the backfield and a key leader both on and off the field, Boyden is stepping away from the team after recently learning she is pregnant.
The news was met with joy and celebration internally, alongside a recognition of just how much she’ll be missed. Boyton’s daring hucks and calm composure have helped shape Oregon’s identity early in the season. Her leadership will now continue in a different form, as Soar rallies around her and looks for others to step into larger offensive roles.
Looking Ahead: Bay Area Challenge
With a bye week on deck, Soar has a chance to regroup before heading to California for back-to-back matchups with the Bay Area Falcons, a squad stacked with seasoned veterans and rising stars alike.
For Oregon, the challenge is clear: capture the energy and cohesion the team showed in the second half against Colorado and bring it from the first pull.
The hints of potential we saw in Week One blossomed into extended stretches of excellence in Week Two. The first win is coming. And when it does, it will be earned.
Written by Avi Taylor