The four-time defending Sonoma County League champion Lady Tigers took the first step in their quest for a fifth straight soccer title last week, claiming varsity wins over El Molino (3-0) and Petaluma (2-1) to vault to the top of the standings.
At press time the Tigers (5-1-2, 2-0) were prepping to resume league action with home and away matches against Elsie Allen (Wednesday, Jan. 10, 7 p.m.) and Piner (Friday, Jan. 12, 3 p.m.) before hosting Healdsburg on Jan. 15 (7 p.m.).
Meanwhile, El Molino (2-5, 0-2) remains in search of their first league win, combining their loss to the Tigers with a 4-1 setback to Sonoma Valley. This week, the Lions were to host Petaluma on Jan. 10 (6 p.m.), followed by a Jan. 12 visit to Elsie Allen (6 p.m.).
The Tigers took control over the Lions in the first battle for local bragging rights in the opening half of the Jan. 3 meeting in Forestville, scoring a pair of goals to go up 2-0. Analy added another insurance goal after intermission to ice a 3-0 win.
Senior Jennah Copeland tallied two goals for the Tigers, while senior Kiara Heathcock scored the other. Assists went to Heathcock and Megan Lucas. Sophomore goalie Kaija Bazzano recorded the shutout for Analy.  Â
The Tigers traveled to Petaluma for a key match against the perennial rival Trojans, yielding a goal in the opening half to trail 1-0 at the break. The Tigers turned up the heat in second half, getting goals from Riley Yates and Isabel Housman to escape with a 2-1 victory. Credit Claire Brown and Lily Ziemer with assists for Analy.
Lions fall to Dragons Â
El Molino played host to Sonoma Valley on Friday, getting a first-half goal from senior standout Carly Hittenmiller to forge a 1-1 tie at the half. It was all the Lions could muster the rest of the way as the Dragons scored a hat trick after intermission in cruising to a 4-1 win.
