Gaels, Bulldogs back in hunt

Bishop Gorman and Centennial thought their seasons were over when they were bounced from the Class 4A Sunset Region girls soccer playoffs Feb. 26.

Instead, they'll play each other for a region championship Monday.

In a redo of the Sunset semifinals Thursday, Gorman beat Arbor View 2-0 and Centennial won 3-1 over Shadow Ridge at Bettye Wilson Park.

"It's been really crazy," Gorman midfielder Mariah Hobbs said. "We honestly thought we were done. Our hearts were breaking. I'm a senior, and that was my last game."

In the semifinals, Gorman originally was eliminated with a 1-0 double-overtime loss to Shadow Ridge, and Centennial suffered a 3-0 ouster at the hands of Arbor View.

But both teams got a second chance Tuesday, when the Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association reshuffled the brackets in the wake of Shadow Ridge forfeiting a Jan. 28 game against Legacy for using an ineligible player.

That forfeit shifted Shadow Ridge from second to third place in the Northwest League and Arbor View from third to second, and the playoff matchups changed.

"It's unfortunate that it comes under these circumstances because, no matter what, it'll be seen as a tainted win," Gorman coach Lora Feely said.

Hobbs scored just over 15 minutes into the second half on an assist from Megan Wasiak to lift the Gaels to the win. Wasiak scored on an assist from Courtney Beckwith in the final three minutes.

Alex Holland recorded a four-save shutout for Gorman (18-1-0), which will meet Centennial (16-2-1) in the region final at 4 p.m. Monday. A trip to the Southern Nevada championship will be at stake.

After winning three playoff games in two weeks, Arbor View (14-4-2) didn't make it past the semifinals.

"You can't do anything about it," Aggies coach Jay Howard said. "We've just got to deal with it and move on, and I guess the life lesson is that things aren't always fair."

• Centennial 3, Shadow Ridge 1 -- Faith Johannes and Sophie Krauza scored two minutes apart in the second half to lead the defending Southern Nevada champion Bulldogs.

"We knew somebody was looking after us," Centennial senior defender Ashley Mosley said of the Bulldogs' second opportunity. "We got a once-in-a-lifetime chance, and we wanted to take advantage of it."

The Bulldogs grabbed a 1-0 lead in the fourth minute as Katelyn Thein took a pass from Debbie McLaughlin and left-footed it home.

In the 47th minute, Johannes made it 2-0 when she put in a rebound after Julie Owens' initial shot was blocked.

Krauza then gave Centennial a three-goal cushion when her shot from 20 yards out went off the post and past Mustangs goalkeeper Megan Brown.

Centennial's defense did the rest, even clearing a shot off the goal line in the 59th minute.

Shadow Ridge (13-4-3) broke the shutout in the 76th minute when Kelsey Tesoro got a head on Brittney Esquivel's long free kick and redirected it past Gretchen Mikulich.

"We have no excuses," Mustangs coach Harvey Robicheau said. "The girls did the best they could. I'm proud of them."