Turlock girls soccer keeps CCAL’s top spot with 1-0 victory over Enochs
There was no downplaying the importance of Wednesday’s Central California Athletic League match for Turlock girls soccer coach Nicole Lonergan.
Whenever the Bulldogs match up with Enochs, it is a battle and their first matchup of the season was no different.
Both teams entered unbeaten in CCAL play – Turlock was in first at 4-0, Enochs second at 3-0.
“It always feels like this is that game where everything is sort of on the line,” Lonergan said. “So even though we’re only halfway through the season, we prepped for this game like everything was on the line today.”
The extra attention to preparation paid off as a first half goal by senior midfielder Jenna Dean was all Turlock needed to remain perfect in league play with a 1-0 win.
“I’m really proud of my team,” Dean said. “We really wanted it and we went out there and we all played together, we played with grit. We really showed up.”
In the win, the Bulldogs recorded their second straight shutout.
Seniors Emma Schwinden and Paris Arteaga lead the defense while freshman Adalay Valdivia and junior Jayden Jimenez round out a back line that has allowed just one goal in the past six matches.
“Those four have really just settled into playing with each other,” Lonergan said. “They know where the other person is going to be. They communicate really well.”
On the off chance that a ball gets past them, Fresno Pacific University commit Abby Tucker is likely to come up with a save in goal.
“She had some amazing saves today,” Lonergan said of Tucker, who finished the match with seven saves. “Having a goalkeeper that can make big saves and that your team can trust to play with their feet and have confidence in them helps bring everything together.”
The Bulldogs’ only goal came off a free kick in the 39th minute.
Senior Gracie Ronveaux sent a perfectly placed ball into the middle of the box that was redirected by a header from Sonoma State signee Jenna Dean.
“Gracie hit a nice ball, she dipped it in and then I just went up and tried to get my best up there and I just headed it in,” said Dean, the Bulldogs’ leader in goals and assists.
In recent weeks, Lonergan emphasized capitalizing on offensive chances.
“One thing that we’ve really worked on has been crossing and finishing and hitting our set pieces,” Lonergan said. “Gracie Ronveaux has really settled into her role as a set piece taker and we’ve just really emphasized what the other players who are in the box and making their runs need to do. So I think that was just an example of 100% commitment to the game plan.”
The Bulldogs begin the second round of league games Friday against Gregori. The team is preparing for every opponent’s best shot in the final five games.
“We just got to stay composed,” Dean said. “Obviously, we’ve won all the games, but that doesn’t mean it’s over. I know people are going to be mad and they want to come for us because we’re in first, so we just got to … treat every game like it’s a really big one.”
Girls soccer scores
Ceres 1, Pacheco 0: The Bulldogs scored their only goal in the first half in their win over Pacheco, their eighth Western Athletic Conference victory. Ceres sits in second place behind Beyer and will play Mountain House on Monday.
Beyer 6, Mountain House 0: Isabella Rodriguez finished with a hat trick and one assist and Idaho State signee Ashlee Leonetti added two goals and one assist as the WAC leading Patriots earned their 10th league win. Aleena Tuers and Keira Bird combined for nine saves.
Oakdale 1, East Union 0: The Mustangs got back in the win column against the Lancers. Senior Trista French scored Oakdale’s lone goal, her sixth of the season.
Manteca 0, Central Catholic 0: The Raiders finished Wednesday’s VOL matchup tied with the league’s top team. They will look for their first league win Monday.
Boys soccer scores
Mountain House 4, Beyer 1: The Patriots allowed goals from three Mountain House players in a league loss Wednesday. Beyer will look to end its four-game skid Friday against Davis.
Gregori 2, Downey 0: The Jaguars scored one goal in each half to earn their fourth league win. David Cortez and Braden Herline found the back of the net and Chris Diaz finished with three saves in the shutout.
Enochs 2, Turlock 2: The Eagles and Bulldogs scored all of their goals in an exciting second half. Enochs maintains third place in the CCAL and Turlock ends the game in fourth place. Both will play Friday.
Modesto 5, Pitman 1: Modesto extended its win streak to two games with its win over Pitman. Alexis Luna Alvarez and Brian Valenzuela Cabello each scored twice. Alvarez added two assists.
Los Banos 4, Johansen 0: The Vikings lost their second straight match in WAC play Wednesday. They have been shut out in three of their last four games.
Ceres 3, Pacheco 2: Enrique Murillo, Yahir Medina and Fernando Galvan each scored in the Bulldogs’ third league win.
Lathrop 1, Davis 0: Davis held Lathrop scoreless in the first half but allowed a second half goal to Javier Galvez in a battle between the WAC’s top two teams.
This story was originally published January 26, 2023 at 11:44 AM.
