SUNRISE REGION: Vigil vaults Foothill past Wildcats with overtime goal

It was a shot Jillian Vigil had sent sailing over the crossbar in the past.

But Tuesday, Vigil’s placement was perfect.

The sophomore midfielder took a free kick from just outside the penalty box and dropped it just under the crossbar and out of the reach of Las Vegas High’s goalkeeper to give Foothill a 3-2 overtime win over the Wildcats in the Sunrise Region quarterfinals at Heritage Park.

“We practiced them over, and over again, and several games, they’ve gone over (the crossbar),” Foothill coach Cynthia Guzman said. “And when it counted the most, it was right where it needed to be.

“It sunk right behind the goalie’s fingers. And we practiced that a lot yesterday, free kicks exactly like that.”

Las Vegas (6-4-2) entered the overtime with the momentum, after tying the score with about two minutes left in regulation.

Midfielder Alica Nunez took a pass from Ashlee Jordan and angled a shot that went off the hands of Foothill’s goalkeeper and into the net to tie the game.

“They had a little momentum on that second goal,” Guzman said. “They had the momentum going for them. They’re fast. They’re really fast. They caught us on the wing, but our defense came back to the center just as we practiced and we stopped them (in overtime).”

Foothill (8-5-2) took the early advantage when Kierstyn Cash scored in the game’s first minute.

Las Vegas tied it eight minutes later on a goal by Adriana Domingo.

But the Falcons retook the lead with about five minutes left in the half when a Las Vegas defender failed to clear the ball, and Rachel Neff poked it home to make it 2-1.

Though only a sophomore, Guzman said Vigil was the right player to take the big shot in overtime.

“Jillian, she’s got great shots,” Guzman said. “Don’t get in front of her when she shoots. They’re like bullets.”

The Falcons play Coronado (10-5-2) in the semifinals at 6 p.m. Thursday.

Coronado 5, Canyon Springs 0 — Kathleen Cuevas scored twice to help the Cougars eliminate the Pioneers (8-10).

Cuevas had a goal in each half, and Kelsey Stipek added a goal and an assist for the Cougars.

Michaela Morris and Breanna McCallum each added a goal for Coronado, and goalkeeper Melanie Frank had two saves to get the shutout.

Canyon Springs goalkeeper Jazmin Leon did her best to fend off the Cougars’ offensive onslaught.
Coronado took 31 shots, including 21 on goal, but Leon made 16 saves.

Silverado 7, Eldorado 0 — Krista Lee scored three times in the first 15 minutes to help the Skyhawks rout the Sundevils (10-2-5).

Lee scored in the game’s fourth minute, beating the Eldorado goalkeeper, who had come off her line.
She then scored two goals less than a minute apart to put Silverado (9-5-1) up 3-0.

Mikayla Ahlin added a goal and an assist, and Danielle Parvin, Cassidy Pappas and Breauna Rounds each added a goal for Silverado.

Taylor Lommason and Sidney Cimorelli combined on the shutout.

Silverado plays Green Valley (15-0-1) in the semifinals at  4 p.m. Thursday.

Green Valley 5, Liberty 0 — Paulina Buskas scored in the game’s first minute, and the Gators rolled over the Patriots.

Faith Ezelle, Mackenzie Zurcher, Lauren Avecilla and Stephanie Chaisson each added a goal for Green Valley.

Kayla Anderson had two assists, and Nicole Dunn and Kiyana Lopez split time in goal to share the shutout.