ROHNERT PARK – The quest for a coveted North Coast Section soccer championship will have to wait another year for the Analy Lady Tigers, who fell to the #2 seeded Campolindo Cougars, 3-0 in the Division 3 title game on Saturday at Rancho Cotate High School.
It was a bitter sweet ending for the #1 seeded Tigers, who navigated the tournament bracket with wins over Encinal (6-0), El Cerrito (2-0) and Ygnacio Valley (1-0) to advance to the championship match.
The magic ran out in the title game, as the Cougars dictated the tempo, turning a tense 1-0 halftime lead into an eventual 3-0 shutout.
By virtue of their top-four finish in NCS, the Tigers qualified to play in the CIF Nor Cal State Playoff Tournament, a product of the move to a winter season. However, Analy players elected not to participate.
“We did a majority vote and the players wanted to return to club and (other) teams,” Analy coach Brittney Briones said. “Many of the girls are injured and want to recover. As a coach, it’s a tough pill to swallow because this is a huge opportunity for the players, program and school, but I understand to a point. Thus, our season is over and we’re looking to next year and the NBL (league realignment).”
The Tigers (18-3-3) advanced to the NCS championship match with a tense 1-0 semifinal win over Ygnacio Valley on Feb. 21. Lily Ziemer scored the game’s lone goal on an assist from Isabel Housman, and the Analy defense made the lead stick in yet another stellar performance. Credit goalie Kaija Bazzano with her 15th shutout of the season.
“I thought we played one of the best games we had all year,” Briones noted. “We moved the ball and defended very well, our midfield created multiple chances for our forwards and our keeper also came up with a couple of keys saves.”
The win pitted the Tigers against a talented Campolindo squad in the title game on Saturday, a match that was scoreless until the Cougars broke through for a goal in the 34-minute mark of the first half. Campo added two more scores after intermission.
“I don’t feel like the score reflected how the game played out, but Campolindo deserved the win,” Briones said. “We played very flat, were not strong on the ball, and did not move the ball effectively. We had several chances, but were unable to convert.”
Despite the loss, coaches and fans had nothing but praise for an Analy squad that overcame its share of adversity to reach the title match.
“Considering that we played all year with injuries and illness, we had an amazing year,” Briones reflected. “We haven’t played one game this season with 11 healthy starters. It’s been rough, but the girls have pushed through and done amazing.”
