The varsity girls’ soccer team is in the midst of another great week of soccer, having played two games already this week. On Monday, the two best teams in the league squared off when we traveled to BCHS for our final meeting as SSL opponents, and for SSL supremacy. The game lived up to its hype, ending in an epic 3-3 double-overtime tie. We struck first 15 minutes into the game with a goal by Izabella Nuncio, which BCHS answered with their own just minutes later to tie the game at one. Bella came back again just before half time to score her second goal of the game to put us out in front again 2-1. In the second half, BCHS came out much more determined, and again, scored the equalizer to knot the game at two goals apiece. That is how the game stayed through the end of regulation and I can’t overstate how intense of a game this was to watch. Going into the 20 minute overtime session, I stressed to my team the necessity for each player to step up and do their job and leave it all on the field, and that’s exactly what they did. Six minutes in, senior captain Taylor Hale almost wrote our storybook ending by burying a beautiful left-footed shot in the back of the net that sailed up and over the keeper to put us ahead 3-2. Unfortunately, about 14 minutes still remained, during which time BCHS mounted their own counter-attack and found a way, for the third time in the game, to score the equalizer. Although a 3-3 tie was not ideal, we realize and respect the quality of a BCHS opponent that is always tough, especially at home.

There was no rest for the weary as we had to come back less than 24 hours later and face Wasco at Taft on Tuesday night. After 100 minutes of soccer the evening before, we readied ourselves mentally to try to prevent a letdown against the Tigers. We came out hot. Less than 2 minutes into the game, Bella fired a rocket into the net to give us a 1-0 lead. This would only be the first of her 4 goals on the night. Although Wasco played well, we came out victorious 4-2. We are currently playing, by far, our best soccer of the season and I can’t state enough how extremely proud I am of each member of this team. From our Goalkeeper Valerie Munoz making extremely tough saves in net, all the way up to our forwards, each member of the team is stepping up in key situations. We currently stand in second in the SSL at 5-1-2, with our only loss coming to BCHS (6-0-2) the first time we played them at our house 2-1. Our third and final game of the week is Thursday at Shafter, in which we hope to keep our hot streak going. (Our team’s last loss was December 16th.) With 4 games remaining in league play, we are trending in the right direction for a playoff run.

Please come out and support your Lady ‘Cats next Tuesday, January 30 at 6 pm for our final regular season home game (this game is also Senior Night) versus Cesar Chavez HS.