Central Panthers Boys Soccer 3-0 Thurston

Central's boys soccer team opened its 2026 season with a convincing 3-0 shutout victory over Thurston on Thursday, traveling to Thurston's home pitch for this non-league matchup. The Panthers, representing Independence, Oregon, and the Mid-Willamette Conference (5A), wasted no time making a statement in their first competitive action of the fall. Without a detailed box score available, the clean sheet tells much of the story: Central's defense held firm throughout, and the attack produced enough to put the game away comfortably. Because this was a non-league contest, the result carries no direct conference weight in the Mid-Willamette standings, but it gives the Panthers a confident foundation heading into the meat of their schedule. Earning a road win to open the year is never a small thing, and Central will look to carry that momentum forward as league play approaches. The Panthers now sit at 1-0 on the young season.