SCA U-11 booters take first in Mt. Diablo soccer tourney

The Sonoma County Alliance (SCA) Under 11 girls soccer team took
first place in the Mt. Diablo Summer Classic tournament last
weekend. Alliance, coached by Matt Bernard, includes players from
throughout the North Bay. SCA faced teams representing Contra
Costa, Marin County, Castro Valley, and Mt. Diablo, scoring two
shutouts, a tie, and a 3-2 victory to secure the championship.
Alliance kicked off the first day of tournament play with two
shutouts, 8-0 against the West Contra Costa Scorpions, and 3-0
against the Central Marin Magic. The SCA offense dominated the
first game, with forwards Maddy Verhunce, Kaylee Castro, Brooke
Santander, and Anabelle Musil, and midfielders Tatjana Ziemer,
Jackie Burgraf, Bella Santia, and Kayla Kimball, winning most
battles for possession. The second game relied more on defensive
efforts, with defenders Haven Kaito-Raidy, Rebecca Benjamin, Emily
Welter, Emily Panacci, and Arianna Martinez, and goalies Maddie
Thomas and Kayla Kimball, securing the shutout.
Alliance started their second day of play facing the Castro
Valley Green Machine. SCA scored twice in the first half. Green
Machine scored two unanswered goals in the second half, ending the
game in the disappointing tie, but still advancing the Alliance to
the championship game.
SCA girls put their efforts together in the championship game to
defeat the Mt. Diablo Storm in a game that went into double
overtime, and eventually finished in a dramatic shoot-out. Shooters
Santander and Welter put two points on the board for SCA, countered
by only one score for the Storm. Providing an outstanding
performance, goalie Maddie Thomas blocked the final shot for the
Storm, securing the win and the championship.