Falcons use heads in playoff rout
Nathan Beck
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The No.1-seeded Scotts Valley High varsity girls soccer team proved its mettle and shut out Crystal Springs Uplands High 3-0 in the quarterfinals of the Division III Central Coast Section playoffs on Feb. 25.
Going into the game, the Gryphons had earned the No. 8 seed by compiling an 18-1-2 record.ScottsValley, the top seed, earned the ranking with a tough preseason schedule and wins over quality opponents.
“We went into this game knowing that the Gryphons were going to come at us with everything they had,” said Mike Ross, assistant coach. “They brought everything, including a scoring machine for an offense and defense that shuts the door down on everyone they’ve played.”
ScottsValleysenior captain Jordin Carlson opened the scoring for the Falcons in the 30th minute when, after taking a perfectly placed corner kick from teammate Sonja Gustafsson, she headed a perfect line drive to the back of the net.
Carlson was awarded the Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League’s Player of the Year award for her stellar play on defense. She headed a squad that allowed only nine goals this season.
“At halftime, we warned (the players) to be patient,” Ross said. “They would need to be strong in building their attack and putting away open-net shots.”
The second score of the day followed a play almost identical to the first. Gustafsson fired another perfectly placed pass, and senior Emily Payne headed it in for a goal in the 43rd minute.
The Falcons found one more goal on a shot from Shannan McFall, who lobbed an arching kick over the goalkeeper’s outstretched hands in the 76th minute.
The Falcons’ defense allowed one shot on goal, while the team fired 18 shots of its own at the Gryphon goal.
The Falcons (13-4-4) advanced to the CCS semifinal match against Menlo High from Atherton on Wednesday, Feb. 29, after press time. Menlo (14-4-2) holds the No. 4 seed in the CCS Division III playoff bracket.
The winner of that game will advance to the finals Saturday, March 3, atValleyChristianHigh SchoolinSan Jose.
