SAN JOSE, CA — Senior midfielder Georgia Kingman scored following a cross from teammate Julia McGivern in the 74th minute as visiting St. Francis was able force a 1-1 tie with host Presentation in a West Catholic Athletic League game featuring two of the top-five teams in the Prep2Prep CCS rankings Wednesday afternoon.
The tie was the first this year for Presentation which started its season with 10 straight wins including two straight in WCAL play.
Panthers coach Todd Daniels wasn’t surprised with the outcome.
“Two great teams battling,” Daniels said. “No one quit, we expected this one to go down to the final whistle anyway and St. Francis is a very disciplined and strong team.”
With the tie Presentation (10-0-1, 2-0-1 WCAL) took over sole possession of first place in the WCAL with Archbishop Mitty defeating Valley Christian 1-0 on Wednesday.
The Panthers, the No. 2 ranked team in the Prep2Prep CCS rankings, got on the board first when Emily Cook was able to find the back of the net in the 24th minute when Lancers goalkeeper Courtney Ogren blocked Cassie Snow’s attempt but unfortunately for St. Francis the ball landed right in front of Cook for the easy put in.
“The goalie blocked it and it went straight down to her feet and I just curved it into the left post,” Cook. “It was nice to be in the right spot at the right time.”
The first half was relatively even with both teams having three shots on goal -- the only difference being Presentation scoring and St. Francis not.
Unlike the first half when the Lancers attempted five corner kicks to zero from Presentation, the second half St. Francis only got two but made the most of the second one.
The Lancers, the No. 5 ranked team in the Prep2Prep CCS rankings, got a corner and was able to score when McGivern found Kingman off a set play to tie it 1-1.
“We had talked yesterday if we were down late to pull one of our fullbacks up and go hard,” St. Francis coach Dawn Hill said. “Georgia just ran that back post and it was a great finish. We had been pressing and pressing but they are a great counter team and we had to be aware of that, but I thought it was a great game.”
Said Daniels: “They are great on set pieces; they proved it and they came right at us. Our girls withstood it -- I thought we had opportunities all along the game. It was a really good classic West Catholic (Athletic) League game.”
Daniels said that his team has kept a real level head throughout its hot start because it hasn't looked.
Playing in the WCAL, a league that features six teams ranked in the top 10 in the Prep2Prep CCS top 25 rankings, you have no choice but to focus on the next opponent.
“We have never talked about going undefeated and unblemished,” Daniels said. “We just talk about playing each game and playing our game and style. If things work out they work out. (If) we play a good game, play strong and play disciplined and good things happen. Today 1-1 is not a bad result.”
Keeper Taylor Fraley had five saves for Presentation.
Ogren finished with four saves for St. Francis.
The Panthers will face Sacred Heart Cathedral at Crocker-Amazon Park in San Francisco on Saturday at 11 a.m.
St. Francis (7-2-2, 2-1-1) is at St. Ignatius at 11 a.m. Saturday.
“It was a great game,” Hill said. “I was expecting a fast game and a battle until the end and that’s exactly what it was. I’m glad we were able to equalize.
“It’s nice to see your team's character come out a little bit. They believed and kept pushing and thankfully this time a result happened because of it.”
