After three successive weekends in a tournament with over 100 teams from throughout Southern California, the La Jolla Nomads Girls Under-13 soccer team battled to the semi-finals in the Cal South competitive soccer tournament in Lancaster, California on Saturday (February 23rd), the highest finishing team from all of San Diego County.

On the previous Sunday afternoon, a tired but joyful team of players and families left the soccer field at Lancaster after a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Presidio division rival Bonita Rebels in the “round of sixteen”. The margin of victory came on a goal by Jordy. After juking a defender on a streak down the field and striking the ball past the Rebel’s on-rushing keeper, the ball creased the corner netting for the only score of the game. The Nomad’s defense repulsed the Rebels attack for seventy minutes of play and notched their 3rd consecutive shutout of the weekend. Nomad’s keeper Ariel held the opponent scoreless with sterling saves, including a booming drive punched over the crossbar and a diving save to push a near-certain goal past the post.
 
The road to the semi-finals started with an undefeated round of bracket play. The first game against a solid Ultimate Team (Santa Barbara) ended in a draw with the Nomads coming from behind to tie the game at one-all. A 2-0 victory against Foothill Storm (Claremont) was followed by a 2-1 victory over Paso Premier (Paso Robles), with 2 second-half goals erasing Paso’s early lead. In the round of 64, Nomads handled the SAS Kickers (Simi Valley) 3-0, proceeding to the round of 32, where the Nomads added to a 1st-minute goal in the 2nd half resulting in a 2-0 victory over the L. A. Rampage.

In quarter-final play, the Nomads vanquished the Bakersfield Brigade team 3-0. Midway through the first half, Angie received the ball about 12 yards out, turned her defender and punched in the Nomad’s first goal. Isa produced a second goal in similar fashion at the start of the 2nd half.  The final goal came on a free kick from just outside the penalty box: Geny got free from her defender, received the cross from Angie, and drove the ball toward the net. The block from the Brigade ‘keeper deflected to Alysa, whose touch allowed Noelle to strike the ball into the net.

The Nomads then experienced their only loss in eight consecutive games. Ten minutes into the second half, Arsenal FC’s (Rancho Cucamonga) striker eluded the Nomad’s defense and struck the winning goal. Despite continuous pressure on Arsenal’s goal for the balance of the half, Arsenal held the Nomads off, resulting in the Nomads semi-final finish.

Coach Kristin “Jonesy” Jones remarked that “…although there was some terrific individual play in our first three weekends of State Cup, all 15 girls on the team did a great job. It’s very rewarding to see the hard work and dedication pay off with the results we’ve achieved. I’m very proud of these girls.”