With one week remaining in the North Coast Section girls’ soccer playoffs, only the elite are left standing. Wednesday features the semifinal games in each bracket, which have added importance compared to previous years.
The winners of this year’s semifinal match-ups will not only advance to Saturday’s title games, but also be guaranteed a berth in the first-ever CIF NorCal playoff brackets. And while the teams and coaches across the section are certainly focused on the task at hand, that new opportunity has created a little extra motivation at the same time.
“The prospect of earning a berth in NorCal’s was something we talked about at the beginning of the season, and it was certainly a goal of ours to attack every day in a manner that would give us the best possible chance of achieving that goal. Now that it is within reach, it definitely adds a little more motivation to perform at our best this Wednesday, and try to earn a NorCal berth at the first time of asking,” said Branson coach Tyler Gottschalk, whose team has won two straight NCS championships and faces Cardinal Newman on Wednesday. “Should we come up short in that quest, it wouldn’t diminish how proud I am of this incredibly talented group and what they have accomplished so far this season. Cardinal Newman is a very talented team, and their attacking trio of Ella Wright, Keely Roy, and Tori Holden will require us to be at our absolute best to try to contain. As for me personally, I’d be lying if I said a berth in NorCal’s with a win this Wednesday wasn’t impacting my own sleeping pattern.”
With that in mind, we take look at each of the semifinal matches across the section.
DIVISION I
#4 California at #1 Monte Vista
With the way the host Mustangs are playing, California will not only need its best game all over the field, but the Grizzlies probably need to catch a break or two along the way.
Monte Vista has had multiple players get in on the scoring in the first two rounds, which featured an easy 6-0 win over Irvington in the first round, and then a 7-0 dismantling of defending champion Liberty in the quarterfinals. Rachel Anderson and Lily Arbabaraghi each scored twice in the win over Liberty, while Megan Edelman and Faith Leung each had a brace in the win over Irvington.
The Mustangs and California did play to a scoreless draw back in December, but when they met two weeks ago, the end result was a 3-0 win for Monte Vista.
California blanked Castro Valley, 2-0, in the first round, before getting past league rival San Ramon Valley in double overtime, 2-1, in the quarterfinals.
Lexi Trucco and Abby Pokrzywinski each scored in the win over Castro Valley, while seniors Sayler Bagnall and Jennifer Waldo each scored against the Wolves, and Pokrzywinski assisted on both goals.
#3 Carondelet at #2 Foothill
Host Foothill has not allowed a goal in the post-season, while Carondelet has steamrolled its first two opponents, setting up what should be a marquee game between these EBAL rivals.
Foothill started slow in the first round against James Logan, but scored four times in the second half for the 4-0 victory, and it was four different players who found the back of the net. In contrast, it was a first-half goal which carried the Falcons to victory in the quarterfinals against previously unbeaten Clayton Valley.
“You try to prepare for this type of competition the best you can,” said Foothill coach Walter Pratte. “We understand the importance of this game, but it’s still just one more ‘final’, the same as we have approached every game this season.”
Carondelet, meanwhile, stormed past Berkeley, 4-1, before routing Amador Valley in the quarterfinals, 5-0. Sophomore Ellie Ospeck and junior Ella Collier each scored a brace in the quarterfinal win over the Dons, while Ospeck also added a pair in the win over Berkeley. The Cougars are playing without senior USC commit Cassidy Tshimbalanga, who suffered a knee injury prior to the end of the regular season.
“They have a lot of weapons. It’s unfortunate that Cassidy is out, but she will come back stronger next year for her time in college,” Pratte said. “As for us, we just have to limit mistakes, and don’t let the importance of the game change our approach.”
Foothill beat Carondelet, 1-0, in the only regular season meeting between the schools.
DIVISION II
#5 Livermore at #1 Montgomery
This one has all the makings of an elite championship game, except it is happening in the semifinals. Many, including this reporter, felt that Livermore should have been the two seed after beating Maria Carrillo in non-league play and then playing in the rugged EBAL. Instead, the Cowboys will have to defend their winter title against a Vikings’ squad that has proven itself to be one of the best in all of Northern California this season.
Montgomery blew past overmatched Richmond in the first round, 10-0, before dismantling Newark Memorial, 4-0, in the quarterfinals. This is the Vikings’ first year playing in the winter season, after rolling to the fall title in 2016, a stretch in which Montgomery did not allow a goal in the playoffs. Its only loss this year was in the season opener to an unbeaten Davis team which could very well be the second seed in the Division I bracket for the NorCal tournament.
Livermore, meanwhile, took out its seeding frustrations on Mission San Jose in the first round, winning 9-2, before taking down DAL-Foothill champion Las Lomas in the quarterfinals, 2-0. Seniors Lexi Romero and Kaitlyn Oki each scored in the win over the Knights.
Since these programs each played in different seasons prior to this year, this will be their first ever meeting.
#6 Redwood vs #2 Maria Carrillo, at Santa Rosa HS
Maria Carrillo won five straight fall season titles until Montgomery ended its reign last school year, and the Pumas would love nothing better than to get a shot at returning the favor in the first winter season for both schools.
Maria Carrillo blanked both Alameda and Northgate to reach the semifinals, and has not lost since mid-December, when the Pumas suffered back-to-back losses to Livermore and Montgomery. Since then, however, Maria Carrillo has been dominant, and earned a draw with Montgomery in the second meeting between those schools.
Sophomore Julia Pell and Kitana Gonzalez each scored in the 2-0 win over Northgate, while junior Teagan Coleman had a hat trick in the 7-0 win over Alameda. Gonzalez leads the way with 24 goals scored this season.
Redwood knocked off Casa Grande in the first round, 3-1, before surprising three seed and MCAL rival Tamalpais in the quarterfinals, 2-0. Redwood got goals from senior Hannah Halford and freshman Shannon Watridge in the win over the Red-Tailed Hawks, which avenged three earlier losses to Tam. Halford and Watridge have combined for 26 goals this year.
DIVISION III
#12 Ygnacio Valley at #1 Analy
It’s been so far, so good for Ygnacio Valley when facing teams from north of San Francisco, and the upstart Warriors look to continue that trend against top seed Analy.
Ygnacio Valley, who finished down in fourth place of the DAL-Valley, has gotten a fresh start in the playoffs, and has responded with wins over Terra Linda and Drake, the latter coming on penalty kicks, 4-2.
Analy won the Sonoma County League, and the Tigers’ only losses this year have come against Montgomery and Sonoma Academy, both program which are alive in the semifinals. Analy shutout both Encinal and El Cerrito in the first two rounds of play.
#3 Kennedy-Fremont at #2 Campolindo
Campolindo got a pair of goals from sophomore Celia Campo to edge past league rival Alhambra in the quarterfinals, 3-2, while Kennedy has been dominant defensively, blanking both Albany and Petaluma to reach the semifinals.
Campolindo, which owns a 4-0 win earlier this year against semifinalist Ygnacio Valley, is unbeaten in its last eight matches, while Kennedy has won five straight since a loss to Division I James Logan.
DIVISION IV
#4 Cardinal Newman at #1 Branson
Two-time defending champion Branson steamrolled Berean Christian in the quarterfinals, 8-0, erasing some of the sting from a loss to Tamalpais in the MCAL title game. The Bulls have allowed just three goals all season, two against Tam in the title game, and had no trouble finding the net in last week’s win over the Eagles.
“The response to coming up short in penalties in the MCAL final has been fantastic. Obviously, the end result wasn’t what we would have wanted, but the match itself was all a championship game should be, and we felt fortunate to get to be part of another big game like that. Tam is a very good team, with an experienced coach that has won a lot of big games,” Gottschalk commented. “Having won two finals in that fashion last year, we know how small the margin between winning and losing can be. Had it been the end of our season, it would have certainly been harder to stomach. Knowing we had more time together, and another tournament, hopefully two, to go after, helped us get over it pretty quick.”
Branson senior Nye Day had a hat trick in the win over Berean, giving her 23 goals for the year. Obviously, she will be key in the Bulls’ approach to Wednesday’s match, but Branson has a ton of depth and that excellent defense, plus another trait which they prefer to rely on.
“Having a group of talented players is always going to lead to success, but when those talented players truly care for one another, and are willing to do whatever it takes to succeed as a group, that is when really special things can happen,” Gottschalk concluded. “Our team defending will continue to be a focus as we get set to match up with a Cardinal Newman team that has some special attacking talents. We will try out best to neutralize what we feel is Newman’s biggest strength, and look to take advantage of some other aspects of their play. We will rely on the combined experience of the group, that have been in so many big games together over the past few years, to help us manage the difficult moments in the match, and rely on our play makers up top to do what they have done so well all season, which is create chances for one another.”
Cardinal Newman was sharpened by playing in the NBL this season, which meant four games against Montgomery and Maria Carrillo, games which tested a young team, one that features a junior (Roy) and a freshman (Holden) as its leading scorers. The Cardinals used that experience to their advantage in the quarterfinals, blanking Marin Catholic to earn a date at Branson.
#6 Sonoma Academy at #2 Piedmont
We picked Sonoma Academy as our sleeper team in this division, prior to the start of the playoffs, and so far the Coyotes have made good on that call. Sonoma Academy has now won nine straight matches, after edging both Head-Royce and Marin Academy in the first two rounds, by identical 3-2 scores.
Piedmont, meanwhile, got a game-winning goal from sophomore Ceci Brien in a 1-0 quarterfinal win over Urban, giving her 22 goals for the season. The Highlanders are also playing strong defense, having won their last three matches by shutout.
