JESUS CANO
Prep2Prep Adult Contributor

February 7, 2020

BRENTWOOD — With the game tied, the clock ticking down and missing a pair of shots on goal earlier in the match, Liberty’s Kaitlin Carlton raced down the right side of the field, steps ahead of a Heritage defender. Not even the grueling cramps on her calves were going to stop her determination from finding nothing but net.

With less than three minutes left in the game, it seemed like the anticipated Brentwood rivalry between Heritage and Liberty was going to finish in a scoreless draw. But Carlton made sure her right-foot shot sent the Lions off with a victory.

After receiving a through pass from sophomore Madison Del Prado, Carlton looked up, caught Heritage goalkeeper Tory Morfin off her line and from 25 yards out sailed the ball into the back of the net for the late 1-0 win over Heritage.

“I had to redeem myself,” said Carlton. “We’ve been working so hard ever since we last played them (Heritage). Seeing our hard work pay off as a team was really rewarding.”

After being tied at first place all season with Heritage, the Lions finally have sole possession at the top of the standings.They are just one game away from clinching their seventh consecutive Bay Valley Athletic League title.

“I knew that we would put our best foot forward,” said Liberty head coach Tony Martins. “It means a lot. It’s a rivalry. I’m very proud of our girls.”

The tie on Jan. 21 between both these teams only fueled this rivalry even more. The fans showed up. For a Thursday night soccer game, there was energy on both sides of the stadium as fans streamed through to watch what was likely the de facto league title game.

Heritage had its own visible opportunities. Kaya Scott sent a chip shot early in the game but Liberty goalkeeper Kaelyn Adams, with textbook technique, tipped the ball away to preserve the tie. In the second half, Hailey Hamataka missed a wide open shot, sailing the ball over the cross-bar with no defender between her and the net.

Adams recorded seven saves in her clean sheet, including a deflection right before the whistle blew. Adams collided with the post in the process, but got back up like the competitor she proved herself to be.

“It’s a honestly mental thing,” Adams said about keeping calm in a close game. “Making sure I’m staying in my head the whole time and making sure I’m doing my best to scan and read the field to better my teammates. They came in strong.”

Around the BVAL

Pittsburg's girls dominated Antioch, 4-0. Jocelyn Torres, Dovely Estrada, Melanie Rangel and Angelina Ramirez scored for the Pirates.

Deer Valley and Freedom’s game girls game was rescheduled to Saturday Feb. 8 at 1 p.m.

Juan Rivera’s lone goal lifted Pittsburg past Antioch in the East County Clásico. The Pirates end the week in first place.

Freedom's boys took down Deer Valley 3-2.