The soccer season got underway with a flurry of matches for both El Molino and Analy teams last week, with both scoring wins on the pre-season pitch.
The defending league champion Analy Tigers went 2-1 in their opening stretch, bouncing back from a well-played 1-0 loss to perennial power Maria Carrillo with a pair of 1-0 wins over Cardinal Newman and Santa Rosa.
Meanwhile the Lions (1-3) posted one win in four pre-league outings, combining losses to Branson (9-0), Santa Rosa (5-2) and Napa (3-2) with a 2-0 win over Rancho Cotate in the weekend Ukiah Tournament.
Tigers’ good showing
Analy’s best performance of the week arguably came in its 1-0 loss to Carrillo on Nov. 28, playing an outstanding overall game. While the Pumas broke a scoreless tie with a goal after halftime, Analy goalie Kaija Bazzano kept the Tigers in the game throughout.
Analy was locked in another heated battle with Newman on Dec. 1, making a second half goal from Macee Wacholz (assisted by Zaida Jenkins) stand up in a 1-0 victory.
“We had a slow start, but had a much better second half,” Analy coach Brittney Briones reported. “Kaija (Bazzano) again came up big.”
The Tigers finished up a busy week on Saturday against visiting Santa Rosa, breaking a scoreless tie with a second half goal from Jennah Copeland (assisted by Zaida Jenkins) on their way to a 1-0 win.
All things considered, it was a strong opening week for Analy.
“We have a lot of growing to do, but we’re slowly piecing things together,” Briones said. “We had great play from everyone, but notable standouts were Isa Gilbraith, Tannin Klunis, Kaija Bazzano, Jennah Copeland, Zaida Jenkins, Megan Lucas and Macee Wacholz.”
Analy will continue a busy stretch with matches against Rancho Cotate (Dec. 4, after press time), at Windsor (Dec. 6, 6 p.m.) and at Ukiah (Dec. 12, 7 p.m.).
Lady Lions open season
The Lions shook off a humbling 9-0 setback in the opener to state powerhouse Branson with a solid showing in the annual Ukiah Tournament on Dec. 1-2.
El Mo opened the tourney in winning fashion, getting goals from Hailey Styskal and Victoria Briano, with an assist going to Michelle Garcia-Lopez.
The Lions squared off with Santa Rosa in game two, falling 5-2. Goal scorers for El Mo included Carly Hittenmiller and Kiara Garcia-Lopez, with Hailey Styskal recording a pair of assists.
The Lions fell to Napa in a 3-2 heartbreaker in the tourney finale, getting goals from Madelyne Reid and Hittenmiller. Styskal was credited with two assists.
“The girls were able to build their fitness with three games in two days, and had a bit of a slump in the second game,” El Mo coach Emily Farrant said. “By the third game we showed up to play, and we were able to see the level of play the girls are capable of.”
The Lions will be idle until they host Berean Christian on Dec. 16 at 11 a.m.
