FREMONT, CA - Mission San Jose and Washington faced off Thursday night at TAK Fudenna Stadium, with sophomore forward Rachel Lin's goal less than 12 minutes into the game serving as the game-winner for Mission San Jose.
The Warriors were dominant in the first half, maintaining possession through skillful passes, and highlighted by Lin’s early goal. The Huskies, eager for a tying opportunity, played in a much more assertive fashion in the second half. Ultimately, they came up short.
“It was exactly what we’ve been practicing. Ball control, ball passing, moving to spaces, just controlling the game,” said Mission San Jose head coach Terry Daniels, “ We pretty much controlled the game the way we wanted, and we got the result that we were looking for.”
A key factor to the Warriors’ win was goalkeeper and senior captain Maleni Morales.
“I think our goalkeeper played outstanding,” said Daniels. “It was just all around a good game.”
Morales, a seasoned veteran who will be playing for Sonoma State next year, directed her team well, picking out open players and shouting instructions from the goalie box.
The Huskies attempted many more shots on goal than the Warriors, but junior forward Cristal Sandoval’s shot was saved by Morales, while senior forwards Alexa Rayburn and Jamie Titus narrowly missed the goal. While the Warriors had dominated the first half, Titus and senior forward Jessie Schultz were the driving forces for Washington (0-2-2 MVAL) in the second half, pressing forward whenever possible.
“[Offensively], when we get the ball out wide and square it across the box,” said Washington head coach David Marroquin, “That’s when we get really dangerous.”
Mission San Jose’s senior midfielder Laila Rahman was a decisive playmaker throughout the game, creating many opportunities for the Warriors’ forwards and defenders alike. The team made smooth passes and assertively went for the ball, playing in more organized fashion than Washington. Having scored in the first half, Mission San Jose (1-2-1 MVAL) looked visibly relaxed at times in the second half and missed several opportunities late in the game, but with seven minutes to go and the Huskies looking for ways to score desperately, the Warriors pressed back with energy.
“We’re a young team, and a lot of our players are just getting experience,” said Marroquin. "We’re just fighting to get a positive result and it hasn’t happened for us yet, but we’re building towards that and I’m confident that it will happen soon.”
Washington’s next game will be against American, January 10, 5:45 p.m. at TAK Fudenna Stadium.
Mission San Jose’s next game will be against Irvington, January 10, 7:45 p.m. at TAK Fudenna Stadium