Modesto Christian girls soccer coach Jason Hardy awarded TVL’s top honor

Jason Hardy wasn’t ready for the ride to be over, but on Sunday evening, the Modesto Christian girls soccer team came together one last time.

The Crusaders put the finishing touch on the program’s best season in nearly a decade with a barnyard-style team banquet.

“It doesn’t feel like it’s over,” Hardy said. “It’s done, but you still want to go to practice, you still want to see the girls.”

The Crusaders (11-4-6) shocked many with their unlikely run to the Sac-Joaquin Section Division VI championship game. Modesto Christian had won just three games in its previous two years, a stretch of futility that followed a vacated 2011 season, and began spring camp with only a few club players.

Hardy scoured the small private school campus, soliciting help from the other programs. He filled out his roster with cheerleaders, basketball players, a softball player and two track stars, among others, and turned nearly turned this motley crew into section champions.

The Crusaders finished second in the Trans-Valley League at 6-1-4 and were the only team to draw with unbeaten champion Ripon (9-0-1).

Modesto Christian rolled that momentum into the postseason, reaching a section final for the first time since 2006 — the last of three consecutive championships.

The Crusaders were beaten 2-1 by Capital Christian, but dominated the final 20 minutes of the match.

“This was a team that had one win last year. To change it like we did, it’s been nice,” Hardy said. “It’s been nice for the parents and the school, but it’s all about the girls. It’s not about me at all.”

The TVL coaches felt Hardy deserved at least some of the credit, awarding him the league’s Coach of the Year award.

In all, 11 Crusaders made the TVL’s honor roll, including six first-team selections: freshman Juliet Hardy; junior Carsyn Hoogendoorn; sophomore Rachel Smith; senior Jaclyn Warwick; junior Alexa Hardy; and Dani Fortik.

Hoogendoorn left Saturday’s section final with a nasty cut across the bridge of her nose that required five stitches.

“It was like a bad horror movie, blood shooting out in two directions,” Hardy said. “The bone was showing.”

The injury sparked the Crusaders, who trailed 2-0 with about 20 minutes to go.

Smith added to the drama, curling a cross into the box for sophomore Jessica Groen, an all-TVL honorable mention.

Groen was joined on the honorable mention list by junior Macey Callaway, sophomore Adriana Ovando, and seniors Ashley Lucas and Kylie Silva.

Lucas made the seamless transition from the hardwood to the pitch. A key cog for the Crusaders’ girls basketball team, Lucas helped propel MC to the section final with a first-round goal against Mariposa.

“I knew we were going to struggle and for it to come early was great,” Hardy said. “Some of these girls had never touched a ball and to see where they’ve gone is unbelievable.”

Ripon senior defender Zaire Davis (two goals, four assists) was named the TVL’s Most Valuable Player after guiding the Indians to the league championship. Ripon was 9-0-1.

The Most Valuable Offense award went to Hilmar’s Kinsey Pettigrew, who tallied 26 goals and 10 assists.

Hughson’s Janet Rivera was voted Most Valuable Defense for her role on the league’s second stingiest defense.

This story was originally published May 18, 2015 at 11:39 AM with the headline "Modesto Christian girls soccer coach Jason Hardy awarded TVL’s top honor."