The Tigers are off to a great start on the pre-league varsity soccer pitch, claiming three wins in four outings to push their record to 4-2.
Analy opened the stretch with a hard-fought 2-1 loss to visiting Cardinal Newman on Dec. 6. The Tigers spotted the Cardinals a 1-0 halftime lead, but a goal from Oliver Ziemer 30 minutes into the second period knotted the contest at 1-1. The visitors scored the game winner two minutes later and dug in on defense to preserve a 2-1 win.Â
The Tigers rebounded in a big way a few days later in the Ripon Christian Tournament on Dec. 8-9, opening up against Ripon High School. Analy jumped all over the tourney host, getting first half goals from Miguel Escamilla, Sam Housman, and Ziemer to go up 3-0 at the half. The Tigers made the lead stick the rest of the way in cruising to a win.
Analy met the defending San Joaquin Section Division 5 champions Orestimba in the semifinals on Saturday, jumping out to a 3-1 halftime lead en route to a 4-2 win. Ziemer recorded a hat-trick with three goals, while Riley Bowen scored one for the Tigers.
The victory set up a clash with last year’s San Joaquin Section runners-up Escalon for the tournament championship. Again, the Tigers proved the better side, controlling the flow of play most of the way in posting a 1-0 win. Ziemer scored the game winner for Analy.
Named to the all-tournament squad, were striker Ziemer, goalie Charles Janssen and defender Josiah Miller.
The Tigers will take a holiday break before opening the Sonoma County League campaign Jan. 4 against visiting El Molino (5/7 p.m.).
Lions fall to Newman, 4-3
The El Molino boys soccer team played host to a strong Cardinal Newman side on Dec. 8, battling the visitors tooth and nail before falling, 4-3.
El Molino drew first blood in the opening half on a goal from Jahmye Daly, but the Cardinals answered with a pair of goals to take a 2-1 halftime lead.
The Lions stepped up the intensity level in the second period as Daly scored his second goal of the game to knot the score at 2-2.
The Cardinals again answered to go ahead by one goal, but El Mo’s Logan Myers made good on a penalty kick to tie the contest at 3-3. Cardinal Newman would have the final say late in the match, finding the net with time running out to escape with a 4-3 win.