Girls Soccer (2023-2024)
Panthers Top Spartans in Key TCAL, Extend 1st Place Lead
January 18, 2024--It was an exciting afternoon at Brady Field with the Saint Mary’s Panthers facing the Pinole Valley Spartans in a highly anticipated Tri County Athletic League (TCAL) matchup between these league rivals.
The game started quickly with the Spartans scoring in swift fashion on the Panthers within the first three minutes of the game, giving them the early 1-0 lead. However, confidence remained high, which would propel the Panthers to overcome the early deficit.
With many amazing saves from Junior Goalie, Julia Pele, the Panthers fought hard to gain momentum in the critical stages of the match. Within the last minutes of the first half, Junior, Tallulah Alatorre, put it in the back of the net off a corner kick, bringing the end of the first half with the score deadlocked at 1-1.
The second half did not disappoint in regards the high intensity displayed and tough defense displayed by both teams as generating offense was extremely difficult. However, in the last ten minutes of the game, Junior, Tallulah Alatorre, got her second goal of the game off another corner kick, putting a stamp on the Panthers 2-1 win over the Spartans and extending their 1st-place lead in the TCAL standings.
The Panthers will now prepare for their next TCAL showdown against the El Cerrito Gauchos on Saturday, January 20th at 1:00 pm, looking for revenge as the Gauchos beat the Panthers earlier this season.
Panthers Dominate Titans in Second Meeting of Season
January 4th, 2024--On a Thursday afternoon, the Saint Mary’s Panthers took on the Hercules Titans at Brady Field. Entering an exciting game for the Panthers, previously winning against the Titans 10-2 on December 19, the Panthers would ultimately defeat the Titans 9-1.
Starting the game strong, Junior Callie (Charlotte) Ballard, scored twice within the first five minutes of the first half. Immediately after, Junior, Tallulah Alatorre, hit the corner of the net to put the Panthers in a comfortable 3-0 lead. After the Panthers continued their efficient passing and defending, Junior, Juliana Walters, took a quick shot on the Titans’ goalkeeper to score. Towards the end of the first half, Senior, Juliana Santucci, and Freshman, Lirieh Gutierrez-Trujillo, had two goals back-to-back to end the first half with Panthers leading by the score of 6-0.
Ten minutes into the second half, the Titans scored on the Panthers. However, the Panthers would answer quickly thanks to Junior, Callie (Charlotte) Ballard, scoring another two goals three minutes apart. With a slow end to the second half, Junior, Tallulah Alatorre, shot the ball over the goalkeeper’s head to finish the game with a 9-1 win.
The Panthers now prepare for their next showdown against Leadership High School. This will be a nonleague bout that is scheduled for Monday, January 8. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 pm.
Panthers Top Crosstown Rival in Critical League Game
December 12, 2023--On a chilly Tuesday afternoon at Saint Mary’s College High School, the Varsity Girls Soccer team took on cross-town rival, the Albany High Cougars, at Brady Field in what would be a critical early season Tri County Athletic League (TCAL) showdown. As expected between two rival schools, it was an intense and eventful game, but the Panthers would ultimately defeat the Cougars by the score of 2-0.
The game started with a high-pressure atmosphere as Junior, Callie (Charlotte) Ballard, scored a goal that was did not count due to an offside call, keeping the game at 0-0 going into halftime. However, in the second half of this very tight game, Freshman, Sophia De Loa Ramirez, put the Panthers on the board first as she would find the back of the net to give her team a 1-0 lead.
Later in the half, Junior, Tallulah Alatorre, would put the finishing touches on the Panthers’ 2-0 victory as she would score off a well-executed free kick attempt in stoppage time. Freshman goalie, Brooklyn Henderson, would also record her first ever shutout at Brady Park, keeping the Cougars off the scoreboard.
The Panthers will now prepare for their next TCAL showdown against the Richmond High Oilers that is scheduled for Thursday, December 14. The match is scheduled for 6:00pm at Richmond High School.
Panthers Drop Home Opener to El Cerrito
December 5, 2023--On a Tuesday afternoon at Brady Park, the Saint Mary’s Panthers took on their long-time league rival, the El Cerrito Gauchos, in their home opener of the 2023-2024 season. It was an exciting and eventful game for their second league game of the season. However, it would not be the Panthers’ day as they would go on to lose to the Gauchos by the score of 2-1.
The game started off with many tactical plays from both teams, with most of the first half resulting in no goals. However, in the last two minutes of the first half, the Gauchos scored on the Panthers to give them a 1-0 lead. However, the Panthers would respond with a quick goal of their own scored by Junior Middle Fielder, Laila Lafontaine, ending the first half with a 1-1 tie.
In the second half, the Panthers conducted multiple scoring chances on the Gauchos with many beautiful plays passing the ball efficiently and smoothly. However, the Gauchos had a strong line of defensive swarming many of the Panther players, not allowing the Panthers to get the ball in the net. Towards the end of the second half, a foul was called on the Panthers’ side in front of the goal, granting the Gauchos a critical free kick attempt. In fact, the Gauchos would score on that very free kick attempt, ultimately give the Gauchos their victory by the score if 2-1.
Although the Panthers fell short in this game, they are shifting their attention to their next Tri-County Athletic League (TCAL) game at Pinole Valley. The match is scheduled for Thursday, December 7, at 6:00pm.