Late chances don’t fall as Gregori girls soccer’s historic season ends in D-I semis
With time running down in the second half of a one-score playoff match, the Gregori girls soccer team had its chances.
For the final 20 minutes of the Sac-Joaquin Section Division I semifinals between the No. 3 Jaguars and No. 10 Folsom, the host Jaguars decided they would not go down without a fight. They dominated the possession, sending passes and shots into the Bulldogs’ penalty box, creating corner kicks and nearly connecting on long passes for the game-tying goal.
But trailing 3-2 with a chance to reach its first ever girls soccer Division I section title match, ultimately, the ball did not bounce Gregori’s way.
“I knew it was going to be a great game going into it,” Gregori head coach Tracy Moore said. “I watched film on them and knew we were evenly matched. I’m just proud of my girls, they never gave up even when we were down.”
The match drew likely the biggest crowd at any girls soccer contest this season. The crowd erupted each time the Jaguars scored, cheered when the officials made a call in their team’s favor and let them know when they did not agree with a call.
“The whole school was behind us,” Moore said. “There were a lot of people here which says a lot about the program and the kids.”
When the final whistle sounded Wednesday night, it marked the end of the best season in Gregori girls’ soccer history.
The Jaguars won 18 matches with just two losses and one tie. It is tied for the most wins in school history in a season — the 2014-15 team also went 18-1-2 but won just two playoff matches.
The Jaguars went 9-0-1 against Central California Athletic League opponents, locking up its second straight league title. Kylie Farmer, a University of Oregon commit, finished eighth in California with 25 assists and added 13 goals and USC signee Ali Hou scored 32 goals, 10th in the section. It is believed that this season’s trip to the section semifinals was the first for any Jaguars girls soccer team, and the team did not lack for effort.
“I thought we had a great season and there’s nothing to be disappointed in,” Moore said. “I think they all played a great game, they worked hard and the effort level was there. It was just a good team we came up against.”
They battled from behind all match. The Jaguars allowed a goal midway through the first half but answered shortly after when Farmer sent a free kick into the penalty box that Folsom did not clear. The ball bounced from foot to foot before senior Juliet Lopez connected with a sweeping kick, finding the back of the net for the equalizer.
The Bulldogs scored a pair of goals, one more before halftime and their third with about 31 minutes remaining in the second half to take a 3-1 lead, but the Jaguars never stopped pressing. With just over 28 minutes left in the game Farmer sent a shot on goal from over 30 yards that hit the top crossbar. Junior Grace Rodriguez put the rebound in the back of the net with her shoulder for her 14th goal of the season to cut it to a one-score game.
“I feel like we kind of outplayed them in the second half,” Moore said. “But at times this season, we had a hard time putting the ball in the back of the net.”
Girls Soccer
Division III
No. 5 Oakdale 3, No. 8 Christian Brothers 0: In a battle of Cinderellas, Oakdale recorded its second straight shutout in this playoff run while matching its postseason high, netting three goals. Freshman Ceci Cotton scored twice and junior Lauren Ghigilia added a goal for Oakdale. The Mustangs return to the section championship for the second straight season. They will face No. 2 Roseville Saturday at 11 a.m. at Cosumnes River College.
Boys Soccer
Division I
No. 2 Davis Sr. 3, No. 3 Central Valley 1: A season that resulted in 18 wins and a Western Athletic Conference championship ended Wednesday on the road in Davis. Alejandro Garcia scored an equalizer on a penalty kick and the sides entered the half knotted at 1-1. But a pair of second-half goals for the Blue Devils kept things out of reach for Central Valley.
No. 1 Franklin 5, No. 5 Turlock 2 (OT): The Bulldogs gave the Division I top seed all it could handle, taking Franklin-Elk Grove to overtime Tuesday night. Luis Llamas and Manuel Ocegueda scored first half goals but the Wildcats scored twice before the end of the first half. The match was decided in overtime. Franklin scored once in the first overtime period and twice in the second. Turlock will not return to the section title game. Its last appearance in a title match was in D-I in 2019. The Bulldogs reached championship matches in 2003 and 2019 in D-I and in 2012 in D-II. They have not won a blue banner.
Division II
No. 6 Pitman 1 (W), No. 2 Whitney 1: After finishing regulation and overtime knotted in a 1-1 tie, Pitman pulled off the massive upset over the second seed in Division II in penalty kicks. A pair of saves in the shootout from Isaac Padilla powered the Pride to the win. Pitman pulled off its second upset in as many matches, beating No. 3 Grant Feb. 21 and Whitney Wednesday. The Pride take on top seed Woodcreek Saturday at 1 p.m. at Cosumnes River College in their first ever section title match appearance.
No. 1 Woodcreek 3, No. 5 Downey 1: The Knights’ magical run through the Division II playoffs ended Wednesday night at the hands of Woodcreek. They were looking for their second straight upset over a Sacramento-area team, but could not overcome Woodcreek’s three goals. Downey’s season ends with a 15-5-3 overall record.
