Farmer’s second-half goal sends Gregori to D-I girls soccer quarterfinals
All it took was one goal off the right foot of Oregon commit Kylie Farmer to keep the Gregori High girls’ soccer team’s season alive.
In the second half of the Jaguars’ first-round matchup against Central Valley in the Sac-Joaquin Section Division I playoffs, junior Grace Rodriguez had a breakaway against a Central Valley defender. Farmer ran to the play, creating a two-on-one advantage for the Jaguars. Rodriguez passed the ball to Farmer, who set up her shot. The first attempt was blocked by a Hawks defender but she stuck with it, finding the back of the net for what ended up being the game-winning goal.
The Jaguars advance to the D-I quarterfinals with a 1-0 win.
It was a chaotic goal, but a goal nonetheless.
“It hit the side of the goal and it went in,” Farmer said. “I didn’t even know it went in. I was on the floor and heard everyone cheering in the crowd.”
The Jaguars did not want a repeat of last year.
Last season, Gregori finished regulation tied with first-round opponent Pleasant Grove. The Jaguars gutted through, went to extra time and won in penalty kicks. This year, there was no need for the extras. Farmer sent them into the second round.
The suspense was different. Last season, it was the anticipation of penalties; this year, they turned back multiple attacks late in the match from the Hawks, including a free kick with just seconds left.
But the end feeling was the same. Relief. They let out a sigh knowing that for the second straight season, they advanced to the second round of the D-I playoffs.
The Jaguars host No. 6 St. Mary’s on Thursday at 6 p.m.
“We scored with a lot of time left,” Farmer said. “If they scored a goal, then they’d have momentum to want to keep going. So you’re just trying to make smart decisions so they can’t score.
When she heard the crowd roar, Farmer jumped up and into the arms of Rodriguez and Alison Hou.
Hou, a senior who will play for USC next season, is one of the reasons this team wants to extend the season as long as it can.
“It’s their last year and we don’t want to end on a sad note,” Farmer said.
The Jaguars are a close team on and off the field. Rodriguez and Farmer are good friends, and head coach Tracy Moore knew with both of them involved in the game winner, something good would happen.
“We had a great transition,” Moore said. “Grace and Kylie are best friends off the field and best friends on the field. So you kind of knew something special could happen there.”
The Jaguars defense was dominant again, led by goalie Jocelyn Malagon. Tuesday’s playoff game was the team’s 12th shutout in 19 games.
Malagon was last season’s All-CCAL first-team goalkeeper and Moore believes she deserves the honor again this season. She is vocal, taking charge of defensive positioning, and will make a game-changing, athletic save when called on.
“She doesn’t get a lot of shots on her, but she is a college goalkeeper,” said Moore. “If you watch her at practice, she’s making saves left and right and you’re like, ‘Wow, this kid’s good.’”
Moore knows Tuesday’s effort was not her team’s best. The Jaguars had a week off between their Central California Athletic League finale and Tuesday’s playoff game.
As the No. 3 seed, they will get everyone’s best shot, and to put last season’s second-round heartbreaker in penalty kicks behind them, they will need to improve their final connections on offense.
“We came out flat but (Central Valley) was strong, physical, they played great defense,” Moore said. “We talked at halftime about connecting in the offensive third of the field.”
Girls Soccer
Division I
No. 1 Del Oro 3, No. 16 Turlock 0: After winning its play-in match 6-2 over Franklin on Feb. 13, Turlock was shut out by the top seed in Division I. The Bulldogs finish the season 13-7-3 overall with a third-place finish in the CCAL.
No. 8 Oak Ridge 2, No. 9 Enochs 1: The Eagles scored once in the second half on the road against Oak Ridge, but could not stop the No. 8 Trojans from finding the back of the net twice in the D-I first round. Enochs won 16 games this season, its most wins since 2017-18.
Division III
No. 5 Oakdale 3, No. 12 Buhach Colony 1: Underclassmen led the way for the Mustangs as freshman Kaia Cox and Ceci Cotton and sophomore Dakota Burford scored in their playoff opener. Jocelyn Gradilla and Burford tallied assists. Avery Alves tallied four saves.
No. 4 Del Campo 2, Ceres 0: The Bulldogs were held scoreless in their playoff opener against Del Campo. Ceres finished the season 11-7-3 overall and 9-2-2 in WAC play.
No. 7 Pioneer 3, No. 10 Beyer 0: Beyer was held scoreless while three players for Pioneer each tallied a goal Tuesday’s D-III matchup. Beyer got three shots on goal in the loss.
Division IV
No. 12 Central Catholic 2, No. 4 Placer 1: Central Catholic continued its string of upsets, taking out the No. 4 team in the Division Tuesday. The Raiders advance to the semifinals, where they hit the road again, traveling to No. 1 Twelve Bridges on Thursday.
No. 2 Ripon 4, No. 10 El Camino 0: Ripon scored four goals Tuesday, for the third time in five games. It is the second straight time Ripon has scored four times. The No. 2 seed, Ripon hosts No. 3 Lincoln on Thursday.
Division V
No. 1 Hilmar 4, No. 9 Delhi 0: Hilmar advanced to 15-5-4 with Tuesday’s win in the Division V quarterfinals. Sophomore Raylynn Mendoza had a hat trick and junior Brisa Gonzales scored once. Kayden Elston had a pair of saves. The Yellowjackets are the defending champions and current No. 1 seed and will face No. 5 Argonaut on Thursday at 3 p.m.
Division VI
No. 1 Ripon Christian 6, No. 8 Millennium 0: Freshman Naomi Hendricks netted a hat trick and sophomore Brooke Barnes, junior Tessa Schoolland and senior Addison Dejong each scored once as the Knights earned the victory. Morgan Schenk recorded four saves in the shutout effort. They play No. 5 Bradshaw Christian on Thursday at 6 p.m.
No. 2 Big Valley Christian 2, No. 7 Esparto 0: The Lions moved to 12-4-2 on the season after Tuesday’s quarterfinals victory. Big Valley advances to the semifinals, where it hosts NO. 3 Golden Sierra
Girls Basketball
Division I
Play-in — Feb. 17
Edison 64, Enochs 45: Enochs finishes its season 8-2 in CCAL play, qualifying for the postseason for the first time since 2018-19. The Eagles went 13-14 overall this season.
Tokay 28, Downey 22: Zadie Carraway scored a team-high 10 points and added an impressive 20 rebounds for the Knights on Monday in their Division I play-in game. Downey’s season ends with a 13-13 overall record.
First Round — Feb. 18
No. 3 McClatchy 96, No. 14 Gregori 33: After securing its third CCAL title in four years, Gregori could not earn the Division I playoff victory over one of the best teams in the section and a top 25 team in the state. Gregori finishes 19-10 overall and 10-0 in league play for the second time in four seasons.
Division II
No. 8 Woodcreek 51, No. 9 Patterson 43: Patterson finished with a 21-8 record after falling in the first round of the D-II playoffs. The Tigers ended the season with a 2-4 record.
No. 4 El Capitan 68, No. 13 Davis 58: A slow start to the first quarter doomed the Spartans in their first playoff game since 2013-14. The Spartans finish the season with their first 20-win season since 2011-12. Reagan Jamison finished with a game-high 24 points and Tatyana Johns added 13.
Division III
No. 5 Rio Linda 71, No. 12 Beyer 31: The Patriots lost their second straight game on the road against Rio Linda. The Patriots won 16 overall games and finished fourth in the WAC standings.
No. 10 Ceres 48, No. 7 Los Banos 30: Ceres advanced to 22-7 on the season with an impressive upset first round win over Los Banos. The Bulldogs enter Thursday’s quarterfinals matchup with No. 2 Ponderosa with three wins in their last four games.
Division IV
No. 9 Ripon 47, No. 8 Sutter 32: Ripon went on the road and upset Sutter in the unpredictable No. 8-No. 9 matchup. It is Ripon’s 19th win this season. It advances to the quarterfinals to face No. 1 Liberty Ranch.
No. 5 Bear River 66, No. 12 Central Catholic 47: The Raiders made their first postseason appearance since the 2018-19 season but fell to Bear River on the road. Central Catholic finished 11-15 overall.
No. 4 West Campus 60, No. 13 Orestimba 20: The Warriors’ season ended Tuesday in the first round of the D-IV playoffs. They finished with a 14-13 overall record and a 6-6 record in the TVL.
No. 7 Valley Christian 67, Escalon 58: After finishing second in the TVL, the Cougars could not advance to their second straight Division IV section final. Their season ends with a 17-11 overall record.
No. 2 Riverbank 63, No. 15 Amador 23: The Bruins won their 23rd game this season in dominant fashion, scoring over 60 or more points for the 17th time this season. They host Valley Christian on Thursday.
Division V
No. 6 Ripon Christian 34, No. 11 Rio Vista 21: The Knights used a 14-point second quarter and 11-point fourth quarter to earn their 10th win on the season and move to the Division V quarterfinals. They travel to No. 3 Argonaut on Thursday.
Boys Basketball Play-in
Division I
Pitman 72, Tokay 47: The Pride extended their season, bouncing back from a three-game skid to end CCAL play to win their Division I play-in game Tuesday evening. They advance to Wednesday’s first round game as the No. 16 seed and take on three-time defending D-I champion Modesto Christian.
Turlock 69, Central Valley 44: Turlock continued its stellar second half of the season, keeping its season alive with a play-in win over Central Valley. The Bulldogs have won four straight games and take on No. 2 Inderkum on Wednesday on the road.
Division II
Tracy 59, Davis 46: The Spartans had their best season in over 10 years end Tuesday night in the D-II play-in on the road against Tracy. Davis won 19 games overall and 11 in WAC play, finishing second in the league.
Division III
Oakdale 74, Los Banos 56: The Mustangs had their highest scoring output of the season in the most important game of the year. Oakdale extended its season and will travel to Christian Brothers on Wednesday as the No. 16 seed.
