Isabella Davis scores the winning goal for Paloma Valley. (Photo by Action Captures Media)
The Paloma Valley High School girls soccer team defeated Heritage 2-1 on Wednesday night, improving their league record to 4-0-2.
The game started like the previous time these foes matched up, with Paloma quickly dominating possession and locking Heritage in their own half of the field. The first major chance of the game came off a Paloma corner that found a wide-open Wildcat, who just headed it wide. A few minutes later, though, Paloma’s relentless midfield pressing resulted in a chance for Luna Diaz, who slotted the ball into the left corner to open the scoring.
After the goal, Paloma continued to press for another score but could only muster a few half chances and a squandered shot from the middle of the 18-yard box.
Coach Katelyn Fregosi commented on the Wildcats’ inability to capitalize on some of their scoring chances after the game.
“All around, these girls are tremendous athletes. I talk about their skill all the time,” she said. “As a team, we’re continuing to work on our scoring opportunities, but we’re getting there.”
As the first half continued, Heritage’s Patriots found themselves back in the flow of the game and began to create chances of their own. Anastacia Martinez’s long overhead through balls created a lot of trouble for the Wildcat defense. Ducee Zenteno found herself on the receiving end of one of Martinez’s through balls and dribbled the ball around the charging Wildcat keeper, burying her shot from a tight angle to level the scoring and bring life back into the Patriot squad.
For about 10 minutes following Heritage’s goal, the Wildcats had trouble composing themselves as Heritage began to look more threatening in possession. Then, after a great Wildcat through ball, the Wildcats thought they had their second goal, only to have it waved off for offsides — a decision that was not popular to the Wildcat fans in attendance.
Despite the disappointing disallowed goal, Paloma continued to fight and in stoppage time of the first half, Isabella Davis buried a shot that rebounded off the keeper to give Paloma a 2-1 lead at halftime.
Heritage started the second half strong, dominating possession early and earning a couple of corners, which they could not convert on, before Paloma took back control of the game. Despite Paloma having a lion’s share of the ball in the second half, Heritage’s defense remained strong, keeping the deficit at only one. Unfortunately for the Patriots, their long overhead through balls were no longer looking as threatening and they rarely had even a half chance for most of the second half.
The bulk of the action in the second half came from Paloma, as the Wildcats once again had two more goals erased due to offsides calls that made their fans even more restless. The final 15 minutes of the game went by in what felt like an instant, cementing the 2-1 victory for Paloma.
The Wildcats are now unbeaten in six league games, looking strong as they enter the final games of the season and the playoffs. The Patriots are now winless in their last 10.
“We’re just working everyday hard at practice, trying to get better, trying to improve on things,” Fregosi said. “After winter break, we kind of meshed.
“We have nine seniors, so I have a lot of leaders there who are pushing the girls and telling them what CIF is about and how to get there. Again, winning is great, but we have four more games . We have to go out and play hard, so our focus is on that right now.”
Paloma Valley next plays on Friday at home against Valley View, while Heritage looks to get back on track Friday at Arlington.
Ashlyn Cook moves the ball forward for Paloma Valley. (Photo by Action Captures Media)
Jaclyn Stephenson of Heritage (left) battles Paloma’s Sophia Plascencia for the ball. (Photo by Action Captures Media)
Lyla Lopez (10) battles an opponent for the ball. (Photo by Action Captures Media)
Anastacia Martinez of Heritage controls possession. (Photo by Action Captures Media)
Zoey Romero of Heritage looks for a teammate to pass to. (Photo by Action Captures Media)
Paloma Valley’s Paige Barron moves the ball along the sideline. (Photo by Action Captures Media)
