SUNRISE REGION: Green Valley breaks through, heads to final against Coronado
After being eliminated in the Sunrise Region semifinals the past two years, Green Valley's girls soccer team was looking for a breakthrough victory.
That’s exactly what Green Valley found Thursday, along with some redemption.
The Gators scored twice in the first 25 minutes en route to a 3-1 win over Tech in a Sunrise Region semifinal at Bettye Wilson Park. Green Valley avenged a 1-0 loss to Tech on Feb. 15.
“It’s something we’ve been working toward all season, to get over that second-round hump that stopped us the last two years,” Gators coach Roy Snyder said. “We really wanted to come out and give ourselves an opportunity to play for a championship. This is an amazing group of kids, and it’s something they really deserve.”
Southeast League champion Green Valley (15-6-1) advanced to meet league rival Coronado (12-4-4) in the region title game at 5 p.m. Tuesday.
Kayla Varner and Alyssa Rodriguez scored in the first half to give the Gators a 2-0 lead, but Tech (11-6-3) answered when Rachael Montoya scored her 22nd goal of the season on a breakaway in the 49th minute.
Green Valley, however, all but sealed the win when Londyn Lopez scored on an assist from Cassidy McLean in the 67th minute to take a 3-1 lead.
“The goalie was out of the box. I just kept it low and took a shot,” said Lopez, a junior midfielder. “Our shots were nice and low because last time, they were up in the air and the goalie got every one of them. We controlled everything much better this time.”
Coronado 3, Rancho 0 — Breanna Robinson scored twice in the second half to help the two-time defending Sunrise champion Cougars oust the Rams (11-4-5).
Robinson scored in the 45th and 56th minutes to leave little suspense after Breanna McCallum scored midway through the first half for the Cougars.
“It’s good to see Breanna Robinson get those goals,” Coronado coach Dana Neel said. “She’s been playing well, and her stats didn’t necessarily support how well she’s been doing.”
Gabrielle Morris, Kathleen Cuevas and Nia Moreno had assists, and Kaitlyn Fahrner posted a two-save shutout.
Coronado will try to improve to 3-0 against Green Valley this season in the region final. The Cougars won both regular-season meetings 1-0.
The winners of each region will meet in the Southern Nevada title game Thursday.
Robinson, a junior midfielder, said the Cougars are driven to return to the Southern Nevada final after losing there the past two years.
“That’d be amazing,” Robinson said. “The past two years we’ve gone and lost. It would be great to make it and win that game.”
