Both teams land favorable seeds; eye protracted runs
It’s the best of times for local high school soccer teams this month, with both the Lady Lions and Tigers taking aim at North Coast Section playoff glory.
At press time the Sonoma County League champion Tigers (16-2-1) were the number 5 seed in the NCS Division-1 tournament and preparing to host number 12 Eureka on Wednesday, Nov. 2 in a 7 p.m. tilt. Should Analy win as expected, it will set up a great match-up at number 4 Casa Grande in Petaluma on Saturday, Nov. 5 (7 p.m.).
“I thought we might earn a fourth seed, but we got unlucky,” Tigers coach Brittney Briones said. “I’m excited to see what this year’s playoffs have in store. The girls have worked very hard to get to this point and I know they will continue to leave everything on the field.”
Filling out the NCS Division-1 bracket in seeding order is: Montgomery, Maria Carrillo, Ukiah, Casa Grande, Analy, Cardinal Newman, Windsor, Sonoma Valley, Petaluma, Santa Rosa, Fortuna and Eureka.
Meanwhile the Lions (10-6-2) will represent the number 2 seed in the Division-3 playoffs, drawing a first round bye on Nov. 2. El Mo will host the winner of the St. Helena-Calistoga match this Saturday, Nov. 5 at 7 p.m. in Forestville.
Tigers complete sweep in Apple Match
Analy and El Molino squared off in the second of two season meetings in the final week of league play on Oct. 25, this one taking on playoff intensity. In a defensive battle, the match was knotted in a scoreless tie until the final minute of play. Analy’s Bella Niedermair nailed the game winner from 35 yards out with just 45 seconds left in regulation to lift the Tigers to a 1-0 victory.
“Our girls battled and played with so much heart,” El Mo coach Emily Farrant said. “It was an incredible game to watch.”
Analy had its unbeaten league record on the line in the SCL finale at Sonoma on Oct. 27, as the Dragons took a 1-0 lead at the half. With the field deteriorating due to rain, the Tigers scored the equalizer when Tannin Klunis took a pass from Isabel Houseman and drove it home for a 1-1 tie at the end of regulation. The referees determined that the field was unplayable for overtime and the match was declared a 1-1 tie.
“We elected not to play overtime due to concerns for player safety,” Briones noted. “Even with players slipping, balls stopping in the mud and trudging through mud, the girls did a great job of fighting against a very tough Sonoma opponent.”
