Moderator's Note: I was incorrectly informed that there wasn't an article in the paper about girls soccer (thanks to the parents for emailing me). Here it is...
Hawks Survive Tense Shootout
By Ken Sickenger
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Score one for the new girls.
The Volcano Vista Hawks capped their first season of Class 5A soccer competition in high style late Saturday night, capturing a state championship by edging La Cueva 1-0 in a shootout at the APS Soccer Complex.
The blue trophy came relatively fast for Volcano Vista, in just its third year of varsity competition. But Saturday's victory celebration was certainly a long time coming as the Hawks and Bears battled through 120 minutes of scoreless soccer (regulation and four overtimes) before settling the matter with penalty kicks.
"It was a defensive game," VVHS coach Samantha Lucero said, "but, oh my gosh, it was the most intense game of the season. Neither team ever let down at all."
There were precious few good scoring opportunities on either side. Volcano Vista's best may have come in the first half, when Ashley Williams' bending corner kick glanced off the crossbar.
La Cueva (18-4) came close to converting on corner kicks in the second half and in the third overtime, both times sending headers just wide of the goal.
"I kept hoping we'd get that one goal and keep it out of penalty kicks," Hawks goalkeeper Hannah Fenske said, "but after a while you kind of knew it was going to PKs."
When it did, neither Fenske nor La Cueva keeper Gabrielle Sandoval was able to come up with a clean save. Volcano Vista (17-4) converted its first four PKs, while the Bears' were 3-for-4 after Dee Johnson's shot sailed high.
La Cueva, which shot first, tied the count at 4-4 but the Hawks had a shot for the win. Fenske stepped out of goal for the critical kick.
"I was nervous for the whole shootout," she said, "but more nervous for that last kick. I knew if I missed, we'd have to go through more PKs and I didn't want that."
Sandoval got a hand on Fenske's low shot but couldn't keep it out of the net. The Hawks quickly raced to midfield in celebration.
It was the second time in three days Volcano Vista won a shootout to end a scoreless game. Fenske, a freshman, also got the deciding kick in a quarterfinal win over Eldorado.
While the Hawks savored their blue trophy, the Bears settled for runner-up honors for second straight year. La Cueva also has 12 girls soccer championships, more than any other New Mexico school.
"I think it's awesome we beat them for our first title when they've got 12," Fenske said.
__._,_.___
No comments:
Post a Comment