Tehachapi girls close in on 5th straight SSL soccer title
| Wednesday, Feb 11 2009 02:52 AM
Last Updated Friday, Mar 27 2009 01:27 PM
Amid a snow-laden home pitch and a 34-degree, still cold, Tehachapi’s girls soccer team embraced the elements to take a key 2-0 South Sequoia League victory over Bakersfield Christian.
“As coaches we can prepare them as much as we can, but when it comes down to games like this, it’s up to them,” Tehachapi coach Tom Franchere said.
“They knew everything was on the line, and they responded.”
Tehachapi (14-4-4, 7-0-2 SSL) can win a fifth consecutive league title with a win or tie against Shafter on Thursday.
Bakersfield Christian (20-3-2, 7-1-1) had been in first place at the start of the night.
Tehachapi started the contest with its back against the wall, spending a majority of the first period warding off a flurry of goal chances by Bakersfield Christian, who had a 7-1 edge in shots on goal before the Warriors found their footing.
After a scoreless first half, Sarah Koenig scored the game’s first goal with a 35-yard looping shot that took a fortunate bounce past the BCHS goalkeeper.
Melanie Roussel added the insurance goal off a deflection as the game drew to a close, curling a strike into the left corner to ice the game.
“Bakersfield Christian is a good, clean, hard-fighting team,” Franchere said. “Their heart was in it just like us. “It was a hard-fought game, and we’re happy to come away with it.”
