The Canby Cougars closed out their season with a hard-fought effort in the Class 5A state boys’ soccer playoffs, falling 5-0 to top-seeded Summit on Wednesday night. Though the result wasn’t in their favor, the Cougars’ journey to the postseason showcased the steady growth of a program on the rise.
After a string of key wins late in the season, Canby earned the final playoff seed, setting up a challenging matchup against Summit on the road. Head coach Ryan McCormack praised his team’s determination despite the loss, saying, “We were competitive with them for most of the first half before it got away from us in the second half a bit.”
The Cougars finished the year with a 9-7-1 overall record and 4-4 in league play, marking one of their most successful seasons in decades. This year’s campaign represented the program’s first back-to-back state tournament appearances since 2011-12, as well as its first nine-win season since 1997. It was also the first time since 1996-97 that Canby recorded consecutive eight-win seasons. Impressively, over the past two years, the Cougars have earned more wins than they did in the previous eight seasons combined.
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Beyond team achievements, several players were recognized for standout performances in league play. Anthony Ledesma earned a spot on the NWOC first team, while Christopher Santos and Braxton Nava were named to the second team. Honorable mentions went to Jordan Lopez, Isaiah Martinez, and Jesus Alvarado, all of whom contributed to Canby’s dynamic and balanced roster.
Although the season ended earlier than the team hoped, the Cougars have built a strong foundation for the future. With consistent improvement, a talented core, and a growing winning culture, Canby’s boys’ soccer program is showing that it’s more than capable of competing at the top level in Oregon high school soccer.
