Analy boys and El Mo girls bounced in playoffs
It was an exciting week of playoff soccer for three West County High school teams, taking the field in the opening matches of the North Coast Section Tournament.
The 5-time league champion Analy girls (17-2-3) continued their quest for a coveted NCS title with NCS wins over Encinal (6-0) and El Cerrito (2-0) to advance to the Division 3 semifinals.
At press time, the #1 seeded Lady Tigers were prepping for a semifinal match against #12 ranked Ygnacio Valley on Feb. 21 (7 p.m.). Should the Tigers win, they’ll advance to the NCS title game, taking on the survivor of #2 Campolindo versus #3 Kennedy on Feb. 24 (time and location TBD).
Analy wasted no time in dismantling #16 visiting Encinal in the playoff opener on Feb. 14, getting goals from Zaida Jenkins (2), Jennah Copeland, Isabel Housman, Emily Gritsch, and Claire Brown. Assists went to Brown (2), Gritsch, Housman, Jenkins and Copeland. Credit goalie Kaija Bazzano with the shutout.
“The girls did a great job possessing the ball and finding the holes in the back line,” Analy coach Brittney Briones said “Our keeper came in clutch several times.”
The Tigers hosted #8 El Cerrito on Saturday, emerging from a tight contest with goals from Housman (assist Brown) and Copeland to outlast the visitors, 2-0. Again, Bazzano was nails in front of the net for Analy.
“Our backline did a great job shutting down El Cerrito’s top player and not giving her many chances,” Briones noted. “Our keeper also played very well and helped us keep a clean sheet.”
Tigers, Lions fall short
The Analy boys (11-8) finished up a strong winter campaign as the #12 seed in the NCS Division 3 opener at league rival #5 ranked Piner on Feb. 14, falling in an overtime heartbreaker, 4-3.
The Tigers clung to a 1-0 lead at the half, but the Prospectors held a 3-2 advantage in scoring after intermission to send it into overtime knotted at 3-3. Piner scored the golden goal in the first extra frame to emerge with a 4-3 win.
The Lady Lions (7-13) suffered a similar fate as the #12 seed in the girls NCS Division 4 tourney opener on Feb. 14, falling at #5 Marin Catholic, 2-0.
“We played well against Marin Catholic,” El Mo coach Emily Farrant reported. “The girls battled through many injuries this year, but kept pushing and putting all of their heart into the games.”
