Vikings advance to CIF semi-finals with OT thriller
Lesley Sandoval scores game winner with 100' kick to send Holtville to next round
HOLTVILLE, Cailf. ( KYMA, KECY-TV ) - It was a bit of a surprise this year for the Holtville girls soccer team to receive the #1 seed in the CIF San Diego Division V playoffs. Afterall, they finished the regular season 10-7 but 9-0 in Desert League play.
"The top seed comes with some pressure," Holtville head coach Sadie Ming said. "So they, I think they were in their heads a little bit. It was exciting to see them execute and get the job done."
Trailing 2-1 at home Friday night in the quarterfinals against the Morse Tigers, with just over 15 minutes to play, senior captain Amanda Strahm took the inbounds pass from Laura Mendoza. Strahm used a sweet move with her feet and found and opening to which she launched a long shot on goal that somehow escaped the goalie. Holtville tied the game 2-2. The game eventually would go to sudden death overtime.
"We made it this far { semi-finals } last year," Ming said. "Then we had a devastating loss. We had defeated the number one seed in our first match. So, I think we saw it as smooth sailing. You know how sports are, any game can go however. I'm hopeful that the girls will show up and put in the same effort again."
With five minutes left in overtime, junior captain Lesley Sandoval kicked the ball high in the air, close to mid field. According to Sandoval, she was just trying to clear the ball. Sandoval's kick soared to the net, then took a big and fortunate bounce as it catapulted over the netminders head and into the goal.
"I didn't even think it was going to go in," Sandoval said. "I was already walking away when I saw the goalie reach up, so when it went in I was like oh my God, I made it!"
The lucky bounce sends Holtville to the semi-finals for the second straight year. They have never seen the other side of the semis.
"We have some really talented players," Ming said. "Some really talented seniors and this will be their last couple games but today we got to see some younger players shine as well with Lesley Sandoval. So, if we can build on that it would be awesome."
The top seeded Vikings will next host the Cobras of Chula Vista Learning Community Charter on Tuesday at 5:00 p.m. in Holtville. The winner advances to the CIF San Diego Division Championship game at Eastlake High School on May 28th.
