Turlock girls soccer season ends with narrow first-round loss to Pleasant Grove
The Turlock girls soccer team hosted a playoff match for the fourth straight season Monday night after winning the Central California Athletic League title.
The Bulldogs were looking to put last year’s first round loss to Tracy behind them, but after taking a 1-0 lead, they were unable to score again against visiting Pleasant Grove.
Despite holding the Eagles scoreless in the second half, a pair of unanswered first half goals proved to be the difference as Turlock fell in the first round of the Sac-Joaquin Section Division I playoffs, 2-1.
The Bulldogs tried to pull from experience.
They trailed 2-1 at halftime against Gregori and pulled out a 3-2 win
“The conversation that we had at that halftime was very similar to the conversation this time, which was that we aren’t going to be able to do it alone,” Lonergan said. “You can’t do it by yourself. It has to be teamwork. It’s got to be something we do together.”
Jenna Dean scored the game’s first goal. The left-footed strike from just outside the penalty box gave the Bulldogs a 1-0 lead.
“Getting that goal helped us calm down and play the way that we needed to play,” Lonergan said. “Unfortunately, we made our own mistakes that created their opportunities.”
Pleasant Grove leading scorer Adalynn Alley scored both of the Eagles’ first half goals.
The freshman’s first goal evened the score nearly two minutes after Dean gave the Bulldogs the lead and her second right before halftime won the match.
“We made two defensive errors that created their goals for them,” Lonergan said. “As much as getting the first goal feels great, we can’t fall back on that because being up one doesn’t secure the win all the time.”
Turlock had its chances in the final 15 minutes of the match. Dean saw two shots narrowly sail wide of the goalpost and the Eagles needed a diving save to keep another shot from tying the match.
“At the end of the day, sometimes you can out shoot a team, but if it doesn’t hit the back of the net, you’re not gonna win the game.” Lonergan said.
The loss ends a season in which the Bulldogs won their first league championship since the 2018-19 season with an unbeaten 9-0-1 record. They finished 12-3-3 after starting the season 0-2-2.
“We had an interesting start,” Lonergan said. “But after we got our first win, it felt like something shifted. They set their own goals at the beginning of the season and being CCAL champs was one of those goals.
“I am really proud of this group. I wish that tonight’s result would have been different, especially for the seniors … if I could have given them anything it would have been the chance to make it to the next round. You could tell … every single senior on that field was one of those girls that left everything they had out there.”
Girls soccer
Inderkum 4, Pitman 1: The Pride surrendered two goals in the first half, and answered with their only score of the match in the second. The Tigers scored twice more to secure the win. Pitman finished with an 11-7-2 overall record.
Enochs 3, St. Mary’s 1: The Eagles, who finished second in the CCAL, used a playoff hat trick from junior Hayden Crotty-Romero to upset No. 7 St. Mary’s in Stockton. Senior Sophia Aldaco finished with five saves. Enochs plays second-seeded Rocklin Wednesday in the Division I quarterfinals.
Woodcreek 7: Ceres 0: The No. 15 Bulldogs fell to the second-seeded Timberwolves in the Division II playoffs. Woodcreek scored three goals in the first half and four in the second.
Beyer 1, Kimball 0: For the second straight season, Beyer won its Division III playoff opener as a nine seed. After going into halftime tied, the Patriots scored their only goal in the second half, securing the win and a matchup with No. 1 Christian Brothers Wednesday.
Oakdale 4, El Capitan 0: Kyndra Obermeyer recorded a hat trick with one assist and Trista French added one goal and three assists as the Mustangs scored all four of their goals in the first half. Oakdale has recorded three shutouts in its last five matches and hosts Roseville in the quarterfinals Wednesday.
Patterson 2, Pioneer 1: The Tigers secured a narrow one-goal win in the opening round of the Division III playoffs. They face reigning section champion Vista del Lago Wednesday.
Ripon: It is a No. 3 seed with a first round bye and will play No. 6 Twelve Bridges in the quarterfinals Feb. 15.
Ben Holt College Prep Academy 5, Hughson 2: The Huskies gave up three goals in the first half, which ended up being the difference. Hughson fell to the Bobcats in the Division V playoffs.
Hilmar 3, Delhi 0: Brisa Gonzales continued her stellar freshman campaign with a hat trick in the Division V playoffs opening round. The Yellowjackets face No. 2 Sutter in Wednesday’s quarterfinals.
Sutter 2, Riverbank 0: The Bruins gave up two first-half goals in their loss to the Huskies.
Ripon Christian 3, Woodland Christian 1: Junior Dayna Koolhaas recorded her third hat trick this season in a playoff win over the Cardinals. Sophomore Addison DeJong finished with two assists.
Girls basketball
Laguna Creek 57, Pitman 37: The Pride could not overcome a 34-16 halftime deficit, falling in the Division I play-in to the Cardinals. Pitman ends the season winning six of its last 10 games.
Turlock 48, McNair 44: Despite leading most of the second half, the Bulldogs trailed McNair, 44-41, with 49 seconds left. Turlock pulled within one with a pair of Macy Brandao free throws. An Ella Spaulding layup gave the Bulldogs a 45-44 lead and they sealed the win with free throws. Turlock travels to No. 2 St. Mary’s on Tuesday.
