NEWBERG, Ore. — Three years ago, the Chehalem Valley Soccer Club 2014 Blueberries were five girls training in a backyard with borrowed cones and plain blue shirts. Today, they’re Founders Cup champions — a statewide title Newberg head coach Christopher Lee says represents not only a team, but a community.
“It feels incredible to see these young ladies earn a tangible reward for the hard work they put in week after week,” Lee said. “They show up. They grind. They don’t shy away from anything.”
The Blueberries, named for the blue shirts they wore as a Chehalem Parks and Recreation soccer team when they first formed, clinched the state championship last weekend with a 3 – 0 against Southern Oregon’s Rogue Valley Timbers 15G Red.
The victory marked the culmination of a season defined by consistent work, growing confidence, and a years-long build toward high-level play.
“There wasn’t a single ‘aha moment,’” Lee said. “This has been a three-year build. Slow, steady momentum developing into something powerful.”
Despite the score, the final didn’t come easy, he added.
Lee described the opposition as technical, physical, and organized defensively, leaving little space for the Blueberries to operate.
“Space was a luxury. Breaking that back line was real work,” Lee said. “But perseverance is our calling card. We found our triangles. We kept possession. We played Blueberry soccer.”
When the final whistle blew, Lee paused the celebration to let his players absorb the moment.
“I told them to freeze. To breathe,” he said. “Because they owned it. They owned the field. They owned the game. They owned Oregon.”
Lee credits more than technical skill for the team’s rise.
He points to CVSC’s affordability and access, noting the club keeps fees lower than many regional programs and offers scholarships to ensure cost isn’t a barrier. He also highlighted the families — known affectionately as the Berry Brigade — whose energy fills the sideline at every match.
“They bring life to the sidelines and energy to the kids,” Lee said. “When our sideline is having fun, our girls play free, confident, and fierce.”
The growth of the Blueberries program has been steady. What began with one group now spans five teams across two age levels.
“Never underestimate what a small town can do when it believes in itself,” Lee said.
He believes the culture is what makes the success sustainable.
“We have standout players — some on the fast track to college if they keep working — but success is never just one player,” he said. “What sets us apart is the culture: club-built, community-backed, and player-driven.”
Looking Ahead
Tryouts for next season are scheduled for May, though Lee said new players are welcome to join throughout the year, including through the club’s upcoming winter academy.
“There’s something special happening here, and there is always room for more who want to work hard and be part of something growing,” he said.
As the championship trophy settles into Newberg, Lee hopes the win sparks even more momentum — not just for one team, but for youth soccer across the region.
“This isn’t just about soccer. It’s about character,” he said. “We’re proving that high-level soccer can thrive in small towns — and we proved it on the field by bringing home a Founders Cup.”
Learn more at the Chehalem Valley Soccer Club website.
