SUNRISE SOCCER: Three-goal eruption leads Green Valley girls by Silverado

Green Valley’s girls soccer team showed plenty of potency in its previous five matches.

The Gators entered Wednesday’s Division I Sunrise Region semifinal at Heritage Park having outscored their opposition 17-4 in the past five games and were fresh off a 5-0 victory in Monday’s quarterfinals. But for 26 minutes against Silverado, the Gators couldn’t find the net.

That changed quickly.

Green Valley scored three times in a five-minute span and went on to a 4-1 victory over the Skyhawks. The Gators (14-2-5) will face Coronado (14-1-4) in the region final at 10 a.m. Saturday at Heritage Park.

“I’m so proud of my girls for coming out from the start just ready to play,” Green Valley coach Catherine Davis said. “They played their hearts out. That was some of the best soccer we’ve played all year, especially our underclassmen who rose to the occasion.”

Alexis Kirson got the Gators started in the 27th minute, firing in a shot from 15 yards out. Jessica Messer scored the next goal on a header, which stemmed from Victoria Whitehouse’s corner kick.

Kayla Anderson added the last goal before the half with a shot that deflected off a Silverado player but managed to find its way in.

“The start was definitely a gift that I was very happy to receive,” Davis said. “We could all take a deep breath after.”

Whitehouse extended the Gators’ lead to 4-0 just two minutes into the second half.

“I think our biggest focus was our possession game,” Davis said. “No one can touch us when we possess the ball.”

Silverado (10-5-3) scored on a corner kick in the 52nd minute as Krista Lee converted Danielle Parven’s pass.

Green Valley will face Coronado on with a berth in the state tournament at stake.

“They’re our archrivals,” Davis said. “We played them earlier in the year in our own tournament. We lost to them 1-0, but it was a very tight, close game. Every year for as long as they’ve been around, we’ve been around. It’s always been a tight game, so it’ll be a good one.”

Coronado 4, Eldorado 1 — Michaela Morris and Taylor Houston each had a goal and an assist as the Cougars dominated the Sundevils.

Taylor Kornieck and Kasey Ficklin scored in the opening six minutes of the match to give the Cougars a quick 2-0 lead. Houston then extended the Cougars’ lead to 3-0 after 20 minutes.

The Sundevils (14-4-2) trimmed the lead to 3-1 just before the half on Darianna Mayoral-Osuna’s goal.

Morris’ last-minute goal sealed the victory for Coronado.