| On January 4th the Scotts Valley Falcons traveled to Watsonville to play the St Francis Sharks on their field. The weather was clear and the field conditions were muddy, sloppy and wet. The lady Sharks entered the game with a preseason record of 2 wins and 3 loses. This was both teams season opener for the Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League (SCCAL). The Falcons are battling some adversity so far this season with injuries and illnesses to several players. Both teams started the game trying to manage the field conditions. The lady Falcons scored in the first minute of the match when Junior Captain Emily Payne led Sophomore Olivia Gonzalez up the right wing and Olivia sent the ball into the net for a score. The next score was in the 22nd minute when Junior Captain Jordin Carlson assisted in passing to Junior Taylor Rohde who fired the ball into the net. The next score was when Junior Ranae Maloney kicked the ball into the net after the assist from Jordin Carlson. The first half had the lady Falcons putting 9 shots on the Sharks goal. The first half ended with the score being, Falcons 3 to the Sharks 0. The second half had the Falcons immediately attacking the net. Jordin Carlson scored in the 41st minute on a penalty kick after a handball in the box was called by the referee. The lady Falcons scored their next goal when Jordin Carlson fired a 20 yard shot into the goal after the assist from Junior Jessica Romeo. Taylor Rohde scored in the 68th minute after an assist from Freshman Megan Keating. The last score came in the 70th minute when Megan Keating set up a beautiful cross to Sophomore Rachel DuBridge who fired the ball into the net. The lady Falcons ended the second half with 9 more shots on goal with the final score being, Falcons 7 to Sharks 0. The Falcon defense played very well and did not allow a shot on goal by the Sharks the entire game. The defense was led by Senior Captain Aly Bothman, Junior Captain Kalynn Morano, Rachel DuBridge, Megan Keating and Jessica Romeo. The goalkeepers for the Falcons were Senior Ali Ayers in the first half and Freshman Claire Covert in the second half. The Falcon midfielders did an excellent job by controlling the middle of the field and building aconstant attack with their speed and passing. The midfield was led by Sophomore Madison Black, Emily Payne, Jordin Carlson, Ranae Maloney, Junior Kathryn Balch and Freshman Lena Gustafsson. The Falcon forwards put a relentless pressure on the Sharks defense the entire game. The forwards consisted of Taylor Rohde, Olivia Gonzalez, Sophomore Jessica DuBridge, Freshman Ianthe Tozer and Senior Pim Tamavimoke. |