REDMOND – Much has been made about the potent offensive attack displayed by the Redmond High boys soccer team throughout the season. But of equal importance is a defense that has become as miserly as Scrooge at Christmas time.

The adage ”offense wins games but defense wins championships” bodes well for the Panthers, who tonight will attempt to win a state title when they face South Medford for the Class 4A boys soccer championship.

Sure, top-ranked and undefeated Redmond (18-0-0) has made a name for itself with an offense that has amassed 83 goals. Four players – Enis Isufi (18), John Dempsey (16), Chris Tompkins (14) and Jamie Johnstone (10) – have reached double-digit figures in goals scored.

But the Panthers’ senior-dominated defensive unit has – with little fanfare – put up numbers that are just as impressive.

Only eight goals have been scored against Redmond in the 18 games leading up to tonight’s 7:30 state title match – the fifth and final game that is part of the Oregon School Activities Association’s ”Championship Soccer Saturday” at Tigard High School’s Douglas Memorial Field. Even more amazing is that the Panthers have yet to yield a goal in the postseason.

”We are pretty humble as a group, but we do take pride in that,” says senior defender Jon Maroni.

”We don’t want people to score against us,” states senior Ryan MacKenzie, the only Redmond defender besides goalkeeper Josh Snyder to earn first-team all-league recognition in the Intermountain Conference this season.

Even more surprising is that of the eight goals allowed by Redmond, only three have been scored against the starting defensive unit.

Much of the defensive credit goes to Snyder and the four starters: Maroni, MacKenzie, Chase Delashmutt and Keith Marshall.

”They’ve played even better than I’ve expected,” said Redmond coach Ken Marshall. ”They’re the best defense I have had. A lot of that is how Chase and Josh have improved and played so well.

”Jon and Chase are solid on the outside, we have someone like Keith who is strong at winning balls in the air, and Ryan is fast in the middle. They all complement one another so well.”

The players say their closeness and cohesiveness are big reasons why the defense has enjoyed such success. All are seniors, all four attend City Center Foursquare Church in Redmond, and all are friends on and off the field.

”It’s all about unity,” says Maroni. ”We play together as one unit.”

Snyder has played in every game in goal. His 0.44 goals-

against average is eye-

catching, and with the help of his defensive teammates he has posted 13 shutouts.

”Josh has improved so much,” says coach Marshall. ”He lost 25 to 30 pounds from last year, which has helped make a big difference athletically and with his quickness.”

Adds MacKenzie: ”He’s come up big when we’ve needed him.”

The four shutouts in the playoffs have come against strong competition:

– The Panthers shut down Sunset senior forward Brett Gardner, the Metro League player of the year, in a 2-0 second-round win against the Apollos.

– Redmond limited Lincoln to five shots on goal in a 1-0 third-round victory.

– Tualatin all-league forwards Cole Peyton and Bryan Alford were held in check during the Panthers’ 1-0 overtime road win in the quarterfinals.

– Centennial’s high-scoring combination of Josh Cameron, Jason Hanby and Peter Hong were shut out in Redmond’s 2-0 overtime triumph on Tuesday.

”We’ve not let anyone score in the playoffs, which is a pretty big deal, but we’ve had a couple of big scares,” admits Delashmutt. ”Josh and the hand of God have saved us …”

”… and so has the goalpost and crossbar,” adds Maroni with a laugh.

The question remains: How good is the Redmond defense?

”We’d have to play every team in the state to know that answer,” says a diplomatic Keith Marshall.

”But if we can pitch a shutout all the way through the playoffs, then I guess that would make us one of the best.”