SUNSET GIRLS SOCCER: Cera, Bulldogs knock out Gaels

The members of Centennial’s girls soccer team spent most of this season practically begging coach Kristina Kasten for a shot at Bishop Gorman.

The Bulldogs finally got their wish on Tuesday, and they took advantage.

Victoria Cera scored the go-ahead goal in the 65th minute, and Centennial defeated Gorman 2-1 in the Division I Sunset Region quarterfinals at Heritage Park.

“They’ve been wanting to play Gorman all season. They’ve been asking for a game with them,” Kasten said. “They knew they could beat them, and they were just really excited to play and show their talent.”

Kellsey Meechudhone also scored for Centennial (15-8), which has split six games with the Gaels over the past four seasons.

The Bulldogs, the No. 2 seed from the Northwest League, will meet Southwest League champion Palo Verde (13-3-4) in the semifinals at 6 p.m. Thursday at Heritage Park.

“Because this will be our third time playing them, we really looked at their style of play as a team,” Kasten said. “We know what they like to do, who they like to play to, and we’re going to adjust toward that.”

With the score tied at 1-1 at halftime, Kasten pushed McKenna Stratton from midfield to forward, and the Bulldogs tried to play several long balls to free Stratton.

In the 64th minute, Stratton beat Gorman’s high defensive line and forced Gaels keeper Jessica Anaya to make a sliding save near the top of the 18-yard box. But seconds later, Centennial regained possession, and Emilee Bohls slipped a pass to Cera, who dribbled into space and blasted a shot past Anaya to put Centennial on top, 2-1.

“(Stratton) is one of the quickest girls on our team, and getting her up top, we know that she is able to beat a lot of the defenders,” Kasten said. “We created the opportunities for ourselves to get open, pass the ball to each other and get it around so we could make those opportunities.”

Gorman (10-3-1), the No. 3 seed from the Southwest, had two chances late but was unable to convert on either. Hannah Lee’s free kick from 25 yards out hit the crossbar in the 76th minute, and Jordan Karsting sent a free header in the box just wide in the 77th minute.

Addison Riddle made 12 saves for the Bulldogs.

“She has a huge influence on our team, just her overall attitude and her overall presence in the goal,” Kasten said. “She’s very confident with where she’s at, and it relays off to everybody else.”

Stratton had three scoring chances in the first half and drew a foul in a dangerous spot just outside the box in the 20th minute. Meechudhone smashed home the free kick to put Centennial up, 1-0.

Gorman knotted the score in the 25th minute when Savannah Day sent a long pass into the box and Riddle lost control after trying to make a sliding stop. The ball fell to Hannah Borgel, and she tucked it into the wide-open goal.

Shadow Ridge 0, Desert Oasis 0 — Jenna Gallagher made six saves, and the Mustangs knocked off the Diamondbacks (7-6-5) in penalty kicks after 110 scoreless minutes.

Shadow Ridge (12-5-3), the No. 2 seed from the Southwest, won the shootout 5-3 and plays Northwest League champion Arbor View (16-2-1) at 6 p.m. Thursday in the semifinals.

Gallagher’s biggest save of the game came with less than eight minutes remaining in the second overtime when she turned aside a penalty kick by Sydni Aldan. Gallagher also pushed Cienah Reed’s drive just over the crossbar in the 59th minute to keep the game scoreless.

Joey Wright, Sasha Villa, Stephanie Nava, Lindsay Irwin and Madison Garvin scored from the penalty spot for Shadow Ridge, which didn’t miss in the shootout.

Aldan, whose free kick from 30 yards away crashed off the crossbar late in the second overtime, scored in the shootout for Desert Oasis along with Reed and Rachel Handelman. Michelle Galez made seven saves for the Diamondbacks.

Arbor View 9, Legacy 1 — Haley Vicente had three goals, and Katelyn Laurente added two goals and an assist as the Aggies began their quest for a third straight state title by routing the Longhorns (9-9-3).

Vanessa Lourenco notched a goal and an assist, while Kendra Wallace, Allyssa Larkin and Isabella Oliva also scored for Arbor View, which led 6-0 at halftime.

Ivy Frech scored for Legacy.

Palo Verde 6, Cimarron-Memorial 1 — Macee Barlow had three goals and an assist — all in the second half — and Jadyn Nogues finished with two goals and three assists in the Panthers’ win over the Spartans (5-9-4).

Alexis Lloyd had a goal, and Mackenzie Nogues supplied two assists for Palo Verde, which overcame an early 1-0 deficit.

Kaylen Dodson scored in the 16th minute for Cimarron.