The Falcons entered the game with an SCCAL leading record of 6 wins, 0 losses and 1 tie. Our team has posted a 2011-12 season record of 9 wins, 3 losses and 3 ties. We are currently ranked #1 in the Santa Cruz Sentinel Power Poll Rankings for Santa Cruz County. We have scored 28 goals this season while only allowing 7 goals. We've been successful at shutting out 7 teams in 8 games this season in SCCAL play. In 16 games played so far this season we have held our opponents scoreless in 10 of those games. The national website MaxPreps Sports has ranked our team #213 in the nation, #124 in California and #14 in the Central Coast Section. We are still nursing several key players being injured and awaiting them to return to full strength. We continue to still take one game at a time and we will not underestimate any of the teams we play in the SCCAL. We're moving forward as a team and playing with a little more confidence as we progress into the season.

The game started with the lady Falcons controlling the ball on our half of the field. We made run after run and put a barrage of shots on the Cougars goal but none of them were knocked in. In the 28th minute of the game senior Taylor Rohde broke free down the left sidelines and beat her defender. Taylor went to the corner and sent a shot to the front of the Cougars goal. The Cougar goalkeeper could not make a play on the ball which then dribbled into the right side of the goal for our first score. The assist was by senior Ranae Maloney. The game continued with the Falcons putting relentless pressure on the Cougars. The Falcons had at least 4 corner kicks that barely missed being put into the net. The first half had the Falcons with 9 shots on goal while the Cougars had 0 shots on goal. The lady Cougars were still cleanly in the game when the half ended with the score being, Falcons 1 to the Cougars 0.

At halftime we spoke with the lady Falcons and told them to be patient and to continue pressuring the Cougars. Ball possession was going to be the key to our mid game adjustments. The second half started with the Falcons again controlling the tempo and possession of the ball. In the 42nd minute senior Ranae Maloney out ran her defender down the left sidelines and crossed the ball to the center. Senior Taylor Rohde took the pass, settled the ball to her feet and then drilled a hard shot into the Cougars net for our second goal. The Falcons regrouped and continued their torrid pace. We continued to put shots on goal but the Cougar goalkeeper was up to the task and kept the ball out of the net. In the 59th minute senior captain Emily Payne had an assist to senior Sonja Gustafsson who put the ball into the Cougar net for our third goal. In the 68th minute senior Kathryn Balch ran down a beautiful lead pass on the left sidelines and crossed the ball to the center. Senior Sonja Gustafsson ran onto the ball as the Cougar goalkeeper came out and tried to make a play on the pass. Sonja chipped the ball up and over the sliding goalkeeper and into the net for our fourth goal. In the 78th minute senior Taylor Rohde sent in a pass to the front of the Cougar net where junior Jessie DuBridge tapped the ball into the open net for our fifth goal of the game. We ended up having 8 corner kicks and 5 free kicks during the game. Each one of these kicks we were able to nearly score but the Cougar defense stood strong and prevented us from scoring. The second half ended with the Falcons having 13 more shots on goal while the Cougars put 1 shot on goal. The game ended with the score being, Falcons 5 to the Cougars 0.

The Falcon forwards had the best game of their season. The forwards worked together making runs, stretching the field and putting shots on frame. The forward position was played by senior Sonja Gustafsson, senior Taylor Rohde, sophomore Darby McFall and junior Jessie DuBridge.

The Falcon midfielders also played another fine game. The midfielders controlled the middle of the field the entire game, made several impressive runs and dominated the field of play. The outside midfielders were senior Ranae Maloney, senior Jessica Romeo and senior Kathryn Balch. The inside midfielders were junior captain Madison Black, senior captain Emily Payne, sophomore Lena Gustafsson, senior Shanan McFall and junior Kyla Miller.

The Falcon defense was once again as solid as ever. The defense stopped the attacks by the lady Cougars and settled the ball. The defense then initiated our counter attacks all game long. The defensive play was led by senior captain Kalynn Morano, junior Rachel DuBridge, junior Kacey Lilly and sophomore Megan Keating.

Our goalkeeping continued to maintain a presence in our goal that has been nothing short of fantastic every game this season. The first 70 minutes of play was goalkeeper and junior captain Emily Johnson while sophomore Claire Covert played the last 10 minutes of play.

Falcon players deserving of special recognition for this game are outside midfielder Ranae Maloney and forwards Sonja Gustafsson and Taylor Rohde. These three talented and gifted players had an excellent all around game that inspired and led their teammates to victory.

I want to thank the lady Cougars for their spirit of always playing hard and never backing off. The Cougars have a good soccer program and always play the Falcons tough.

Our record now stands at 7 wins, 0 losses and 1 tie in the tough SCCAL. We've posted a 2011-12 season record of 10 wins, 3 losses and 3 ties. Our next game will be on Thursday, February 2nd, 7:00 PM against the Aptos Mariners at their Aptos High stadium.