High school soccer roundup: Stockdale girls stun previously unbeaten Clovis
| Wednesday, Feb 25 2009 02:24 AM
Last Updated Friday, Mar 27 2009 01:21 PM
Images
Highland's Mario Bulgara, left, and Golden Valley's Eric Chavarin eye the ball during the first half of Tuesday's playoff match at Golden Valley. Golden Valley won the match 3-1.
CLOVIS — Ariel Meadows scored from short range midway through the second half Tuesday to lift fourth-seeded Stockdale to a 1-0 upset of top-seeded Clovis in the semifinals of the CIF Central Section Division I girls soccer playoffs.
"I'm so proud of the girls; they executed tonight," said Stockdale coach Janien McGowan, whose Mustangs (18-3-5) handed the Cougars (23-1-2) their first loss of the season.
"We clicked. We shut down their offensive attack and just played well. We were nails tonight, all the way around.
"I can't even explain how cool it was to watch them fight."
With about 20 minutes remaining, Gabby Giuliano made a throw-in to Erica Shelton, who flicked it backward with her head to Meadows, who scored from in front of the goal.
McGowan said she expected the title match against Buchanan to be scheduled for 1 p.m. Saturday at third-seeded Buchanan, which upset No. 2 Liberty on Tuesday.
In other girls matches Tuesday:
DIVISION II: FRONTIER 2, REDWOOD 1
At Redwood, Allie Trakimas and Cami Privett each scored a goal in the second half to help the eighth-seeded Titans upset the No. 4 Rangers to advance to the Division II championship. Frontier (16-7-4) overcame a 1-0 halftime deficit.
DIVISION II: REEDLEY 0, GARCES 0 (Reedley wins on PKs)
At Garces, No. 11 Reedley continued its string of upsets with a shoot-out win against the No. 2 Rams in a Division II semifinal.
After failing to score in regulation, extra time and sudden death, only a shoot-out could separate the teams. Reedley, which had already beat the No. 6 and No. 3 seeds, now faces No. 8 Frontier on Friday.
"It is the best way to win," said a dejected Garces coach Myka Peck, "and the worst way to lose."
Garces missed three of its four shots in the shootout. Reedley scored on all three attempts.
"We had no pressure there," Reedley coach, Stan Kanawyer said. "I think they felt the pressure at the end. We didn't. Our girls, they had nothing to lose. Again, this is a team that hasn't won one league game, and we're just on a roll and we haven't been scored on yet -- knock on wood."
The first real threat for Garces came in the 10th minute on a shot by Monica Diaz. Diaz was set up by the first of many Caitlin Swift crosses.
Two minutes later, it was Swift who found herself open after turning nicely, but her shot sailed narrowly over the bar.
— MICHAEL FOSTER
DIVISION III: GOLDEN VALLEY 4, HANFORD 2
At Golden Valley, Mitzi Ibarra and Michelle Moreno had two goals apiece for the No. 4 Bulldogs, who led 2-1 at halftime.
The Bulldogs earned a trip to the Division III championship match against No. 3 Clovis North.
"We knew about how Hanford had two huge wins the last two games," Golden Valley coach Kelee Kjack said.
"...My girls went in very focused. They played a great game."
DIVISION V: BCHS 3, PARLIER 0
At BCHS, the top-seeded Eagles (23-3-2) earned a berth in the Division V finals by shutting out against the No. 5 Panthers (12-4).
BCHS scored three quick goals during the opening 20 minutes of the first half to take control.
Parlier's only scoring came in the early moments of the second half on a missed open-net opportunity.
BCHS controlled the remainder of the game with solid midfield play and several offensive attacks.
"We like shutouts", BCHS coach Derik Watson said, " We are just happy to be in the finals."
BCHS will play host to San Luis Obispo-Mission Prep at 6 p.m. Friday.
—MATT MARTZ
BOYS DIVISION I: BULLARD 2, STOCKDALE 1
At Fresno-Bullard, the fifth-seeded Mustangs gave up goals in the second and 12th minutes of their Division I semifinal and spent the rest of the game trying to catch up.
Stockdale's James Garcia scored in the second half.
DIVISION II: NO. 3 WEST 2, No. 2 GOLDEN WEST 1; 2OT
At Visalia, Gustavo Esparza scored with three minutes left in regulation for and David Sanchez scored in the second sudden-death overtime period to lift West (20-3-2) over No. 2 Golden West.
The No. 3 Vikings will play for the Division II championship Friday when they host No. 4 Tulare Western.
