The Scotts Valley High girls soccer team fell one goal short of winning the Division III Central Coast Section championship when the girls were stymied by league rival Santa Cruz, 1-0, in the final last weekend.
The Falcons went into the game as the reigning Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League champions after finishing the SCCAL regular season 10-0-2, including a win and a tie against the Cardinals.
The championship game, played Saturday, March 6, at Valley Christian High School in San Jose, was a different story.
After a scoreless first half that saw Scotts Valley’s defense hold the Cardinals to one shot, Santa Cruz forward Carmela Roberts scored on an assist from Ashlee Wilhelmsen in the 53rd minute.
Scotts Valley generated several scoring opportunities in an attempt to tie the game, but the team could not put the ball into the net.
The Falcons finished the season 15-3-4 overall.
To get to the championship, the Falcons escaped against Saratoga High in the first round Feb. 27 with a 0-0 double-overtime game that ended when Johnson drilled the final penalty kick for the 5-4 win.
Then, March 5, the Falcons beat Sacred Heart Prep of Atherton, 2-0, on goals by Aly Bothman in the ninth minute and Jordin Carlson in the 46th minute.
The Falcons have six seniors graduating, but they could return three juniors, eight sophomores and five freshmen to the team for the 2010-11 season.
