I-A GIRLS SOCCER: Chargers have plenty of chances, cash in to top Tech

Clark's girls soccer team had enough chances to score at least six goals Monday.

Fortunately for the Chargers, the two goals they did score were more than enough.

Darian Gambetta scored twice as Clark controlled much of the play and breezed to a 2-0 win over Tech in the opening round of the Division I-A Southern Region playoffs at Bettye Wilson Park.

"I wish the score represented what we did in the game," said Clark coach Liz Case, whose team will face Sunset League champion Faith Lutheran (16-6-3) in the region semifinals at 6 p.m. Wednesday. "We just kept the ball on the ground, and we just possessed the ball."

Attacking into a gusting wind in the first half, the Chargers (14-7-1) controlled possession for most of the half, forcing Tech goalkeeper Estephania Perez to make two saves in the first 15 minutes and sailing a 19-yard free kick over the crossbar midway through the half.

Gambetta finally gave the Chargers something tangible for their efforts, racing down the left wing and shaking off a Tech defender before scoring from a hard angle into the lower right corner of the net at the 27:38 mark of the match.

"It was huge to come out strong against these guys," Case said. "We knew that we needed to make a statement and not have to try to come back from a deficit."

Perez made two more saves, and the Chargers' Ariana Reyes dribbled through six defenders before ringing a 20-yard shot off the crossbar, but Clark still led only 1-0 at the half.

The Chargers' midfield — led by Reyes — was dominant, halting Tech (9-5-5) surges upfield and quickly transitioning into an offensive attack.

"The leadership from some of the girls who have been here before was key," Case said. "They know what playoffs is like and that anything is possible. They know you have to be ready for anything. It helped us calm down. We played with a level head."

Gambetta narrowly missed on a partial breakaway early in the second half, but cashed in again just past the midway point of the second half. She collected a lead pass from Reyes on the left wing and fought off a defender before scoring to make it 2-0.

"As long as we keep taking shots, they're eventually going to go in," Case said. "We just have to keep taking them."

Cynthia Cassiano made only one save, but was credited with the shutout for Clark.

Faith Lutheran 5, Desert Pines 0 — Maggie Sonerholm scored twice, and Kristi Chinn added a goal and three assists as the Crusaders routed the Jaguars (6-4-6).

Madison Sonherholm and Megan Donnelly also scored for Faith Lutheran, which improved to 8-0-2 in its last 10 matches.

Cheyenne 3, Virgin Valley 1 — Isel Acosta's goal 7:45 into the second half broke a 1-1 tie and helped the Desert Shields upset the Sunrise League champion Bulldogs.

Yadira Erives scored twice for Cheyenne (9-6-2), which will face Spring Valley (11-3-3) in a region semifinal at 4 p.m. Wednesday.

Acosta connected on a 15-yard shot in the center of the box after teammate Hannah Esson's long free kick was deflected by a Virgin Valley defender.

Erives, who scored 13:50 into the first half, was robbed by Virgin Valley goalkeeper Spencer Green on a point-blank shot with 6:15 left in the match.

Erives made up for it less than a minute later.

After a goal kick by Cheyenne keeper Shayna Thompson bounced over two defenders, Erives split the defense and scored a clinching goal.

Karla Correa scored late in the first half on a looping 25-yarder for the Bulldogs (13-6-5), who lost for the first time in their last 11 matches.

Spring Valley 3, Sunrise Mountain 0 — Samantha Meyers had two goals and an assist as the Grizzlies blanked the Miners (8-7-4).

Sahana Bojorquez also scored for Spring Valley, which led only 1-0 at the half but scored early in the second half to pad the margin.

Kelsea Claveria made seven saves en route to the shutout.