SUNRISE REGION: Cougars topple Gators to reach final

Coronado’s girls soccer team faced Southeast League champion Green Valley twice during the regular season, giving up a total of one goal.

Consider this payback.

Kathleen Cuevas scored off a back-heel pass from Sarah Pate in the second half and the Cougars held on to upset Green Valley 1-0 in the Sunrise Region semifinals Wednesday at Bettye Wilson Park.

“I was talking to the girls on the bus before, and they were ready to go. This was a huge game for them,” Coronado coach Dana Neel said. “We had to bring our game, and they definitely did.”

Cuevas’ game was a late addition to the Cougars’ team, after she spent part of the season on the junior varsity squad.

“She’s coming through for us,” Neel said. “It’s a huge goal for her. Some of her first experiences on the varsity level and she’s showing it.”

Pate, a sophomore who tallied her ninth assist, has hit her stride at the right time for Coronado.

“She’s getting better and better with every game, learning who she is and learning that she is a force,” Neel said. “The harder she plays, the better she gets, and she’s putting her whole heart into the end of the season.”

Goalkeeper Kaitlyn Fahrner preserved the shutout.

Silverado 2, Rancho 0 — Rachel Cooklin scored twice in the first half as the Skyhawks beat the Northeast champion Rams to advance to the final.

“We didn’t know what to expect, having not seen Rancho play this year. But we weren’t going to underestimate what they had to offer,” Silverado coach Jenna Carter said. “We just came in with our full guns blazing, trying to prove ourselves as a No. 2 seed against a No. 1 seed. The girls took care of it, putting the ball in the back of the net quickly, trying to alleviate some of the pressure.”

Cooklin scored in the 21st and 38th minutes as the Skyhawks took an early lead and then relied on the defense to clinch the shutout win.

“It’s not anything we prescribe; it’s just the way it tends to work out for us,” Carter said. “As long as we get the goals at some point of the game, and can prevent them from putting it in the back of the net, we’ll get the result.”

Cooklin has 28 goals as a freshman.

“We feed her the ball, and most of the time she does good things with it,” Carter said. “We’re very fortunate to have her in the program, and she’s a great kid on and off the field.”

Silverado outshot Rancho 12-5, but the Rams started the second half by putting two quick shots on goal.

Goalie Samantha Lewis made three saves for the shutout.