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Keeping pace, first place standing

Lady Badgers solidify hold on first place with three wins

Submitted by Yosemite High correspondent

(Updated: Thursday, February 04, 2010, 12:00 AM)

The Yosemite Lady Badgers soccer team had a busy week in pursuit of a North Sequoia League title, playing three league matches. Tuesday the team hosted the Washington Union Panthers, Thursday they visited the Chowchilla Redskins and on Friday they took to the road again to play league rival, Sierra.

Yosemite 4, Washington Union 0

Yosemite wasted little time in scoring, putting a goal on the board in the third minute. After winning a free kick that Kaila Padovich played to the back post, freshman Amelia English passed to Riley Cooks (two goals) who connected for the goal. The Badgers controlled play in the opening half, creating 18 scoring opportunities, but had trouble beating the Panthers' goaltender.

In the 32 minute, Lacey Smith played a ball wide to Jori Johnson who crossed to Cooks. Cooks turned to get the defender off her back, then shot and scored, giving the Badgers breathing room with a two-goal advantage.

In the second half, the Lady Badgers attacked the Panthers' goal, but could not push the ball past a determined goaltender. At 60 minutes, Madison Samora received a ball from Badger defender Olivia Tovar. Samora found Cooks near midfield and Cooks turned to play a quick ball behind the Panther defense to Brittany Elsman, who beat the goaltender for the Badgers' third goal. Two minutes later Yosemite stole the ball at midfield where Cooks played the ball into the corner to Elsman, crossing the ball to Samora, who scored the Lady Badgers final goal of the night.

Chowchilla 2, Yosemite 5

Having defeated the Redskins 2-1 in Badger Stadium Jan. 12, The Lady Badgers were determined to score early and often on Chowchilla's home turf. Yosemite quickly took advantage of a free kick in the seventh minute. Smith was fouled at the top of the penalty box and Samora took the kick. When the ball was played back at her, she shot to the corner where Smith drilled the ball into the net, securing a 1-0 Yosemite lead. Twenty-eight minutes into the first half, Yosemite won a corner kick. Samora played the ball to the center of the box, where Elsman drove the ball into the net for a 2-0 lead.

Seven minutes later, Mary Gomez passed to Samora who was open at the top of the box. Samora put the ball into the back of the net, completing the first half scoring with the Lady Badgers holding a 3-0 lead.

After a number of scoring opportunities, Yosemite broke through 49 minutes into the second half. Kaila Padovich won a ball near midfield and attacked the Chowchilla defense. Padovich then passed to Cooks in the center of the field. Cooks beat the onrushing goaltender to the ball and shot the ball between her feet for a 4-0 lead.

The Badgers capped their scoring 55 minutes in when Jori Johnson passed to Cooks in the corner. Cooks fired a shot from the top of the box, past the Redskin goalkeeper, giving the Badgers a 5-0 lead. The Redskins were able to score a pair of goals in the final minutes of the second half, but could not get through a vaunted Yosemite defense led by Tovar, goalkeeper Tiffany Longcor and defenders Jamie Cogdell, Jamie Vogel, Padovich and Kelly Mears.

"Giving up those two goals was disappointing, but when you make that many substitutions, those types of mistakes sometimes happens," said Yosemite coach, Scott Males. "But, it does not take away from the dominating performance the ladies displayed tonight. A win is a win and now we have to take care of business tomorrow night at Sierra."

Sierra 0, Yosemite 1

Due to poor weather conditions Jan. 19, Yosemite played in a make-up game Friday night at Sierra. After a long week the Lady Badgers concluded with a difficult road match against Sierra. In the midst of a successful season, the Chieftains entered the match with confidence. The Lady Badgers, who have dominated play for the past four years, were determined to continue the streak.

The Lady Badgers controlled play throughout the first half, but could not push a goal across. Yosemite's offense eventually broke through. After a Sierra foul, Samora buried a free kick into the upper corner of the goal from 35 yards out, putting the Lady Badgers ahead 1-0.

It was a difficult night for the Badgers, fouled often. The Lady Badgers had 18 shots on goal, but fatigue caught up with them and they held on for the win with defensive play.

"The score line makes the game appear closer than it really was," Males said. "We had a dominating performance, defensively, and just couldn't seem to keep an attack going after being constantly fouled in our attempts to attack. These were two quality and difficult road wins on consecutive nights, the ladies should be applauded for their efforts."