The Lady Tigers took another huge step toward a Sonoma County League title repeat last week, combining a relentless offensive attack with a stingy defensive effort to post shutout victories over Petaluma and Elsie Allen.
The Tigers (8-0, 12-2) have all but assured themselves at least a share of the league crown with just four dates left on the SCL schedule. Analy will wrap up league play with remaining home matches against Piner (Oct. 11, after press time), Healdsburg (Oct. 13, 7 p.m.), El Molino (Oct. 25, 7 p.m.) and at Sonoma Valley (Oct. 27, 4 p.m.).
Analy was in near peak form in its Oct. 4 visit to Petaluma, controlling the flow of play most of the way. Emily Gritsch got the party started 15 minutes into the game when she took a pass from Bella Niedermair, beat a pair of defenders and drove it home to give the Tigers a 1-0 halftime lead.
Ana Hernandez effectively iced the contest with another pair of insurance goals after intermission en route to a 3-0 win. Credit Niedermair with two assists, while goalie Jennah Copeland pitched the shutout.
“The girls played probably the best soccer we’ve seen this year,” Tigers coach Brittney Briones said. “Our back line really stepped up, thwarting Petaluma’s efforts to break us down and find through balls. The whole team came together and really left everything on the field.”
The Tigers were much the better team two nights later in a home match with Elsie Allen, scoring early and often on their way to an 8-0 rout. Goals scorers included Claire Brown (2), Ana Hernandez, Bella Niedermair, Megan Lucas, Lilli Ziemer, Jennah Copeland and Emily Gritsch. Assists went to Niedermair (2), Brown, Lucas, Copeland and Sydney Hargrave.
Lions battle league foes
The Lions (2-6, 7-5) are coming off two outstanding efforts with no tangible reward, falling to Sonoma Valley and Petaluma by identical 1-0 scores.
“We were down to 11 girls due to sickness and injuries (against Sonoma), El Mo coach Emily Farrant reported. “We played fantastic on Thursday and showed up to play against Petaluma. It was a much better result than the 6-0 score last time we played them.”
El Molino is very much in the postseason hunt entering the final stretch of league play, with remaining home matches against Elsie Allen (Oct. 11), Piner (Oct. 13, 7 p.m.), and away dates at Healdsburg (Oct. 18, 7 p.m.) and Analy (Oct. 25, 7 p.m.).
