 | | | Photo Gint Federas | | | | | | The Miramonte girls soccer team swept through the NorCal tournament to claim the championship, beating El Camino of Sacramento 2-0 before a home crowd March 2.
The Matadors got second half goals from Alison Whipple and Jordan Goularte while controlling the tempo of the game, outshooting El Camino 15-3. The match was played in a light drizzle on a soggy field.
Unlike other sports such as football and basketball, there are no state playoffs for soccer. According to head coach Barry McQuain, this may be Miramonte's first ever NorCal state championship.
"It was very sweet to be able to win on our home field with about 300 supporters cheering us on," said McQuain. "Perhaps in the near future the C.I.F. may allow a California playoff. That would be a great game."
Miramonte earned the home field advantage by knocking off the No. 1 seed Liberty Ranch of Galt in the semifinals 3-2. Down 1-0 in the second half, Sabrina Grant scored their first goal on a header off a corner kick assist by Jordan Goularte. Taylor Walthall added two more goals on assists by Grant and Isabel Fine to secure the victory.
A strong defensive effort helped the Mats defeat No. 4 Kingsburg in the first round of the NorCal tourney, with sophomore Angelina Basso scoring the lone goal. McQuain gave credit to Whipple and Grant for their defensive efforts against a team with one of the highest scoring players in the state.
The NorCal championship game was nearly a repeat performance of the NCS playoffs, as Campolindo fell one game shy of reaching the finals, falling to El Camino of Sacramento, 2-0. The Cougars previously upset No. 2 Sacred Heart Prep in Atherton 3-2 to make it as far as the semifinals.
Miramonte and Campolindo met in the NCS finals, with the 2-1 match being decided on a corner kick that Walthall bent into the net untouched with no time left on the clock. Incredibly, it was Walthall's second corner kick goal of the game. Celia Campo scored the lone goal for the Cougars.
McQuain gave credit to assistant coach Joe McMahon, who is in his third year with the program: "Joe was a big part of everything this year and we really couldn't have done it without him." |
Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA