SUNSET REGION: Drizin steps up, sends Bulldogs to final

The senior who has committed to UC Davis saved one of her biggest moments for the playoffs.

Drizin netted three goals as Centennial blitzed Palo Verde, 4-1 in a Sunset Region semifinal.

“We had to play as a team,” Drizin said. “We pulled together, came out here, and played as a team.”

Drizin scored off a through ball by Danielle Farano five minutes into the match, and Nikki Romero lobbed one in three minutes later for the Bulldogs (11-3-2).

Drizin added a goal in the 12th minute, taking a pass from Hannah Alba that soared over the defense.

“She was really sick yesterday. But today (Drizin) was amazing,” Centennial coach Jeremy Gill said.

“There are some players on this team that are built for the playoffs. It’s all about the playoffs.”

Sila Tuiofea scored eight minutes before halftime for Palo Verde (13-6-3), receiving the ball near midfield and barreling to goal before unleashing a rocket into the top shelf.

But Drizin iced the match in the 69th minute, cutting across the 18-yard box and cheekily chipping in a goal for the final margin.

Bishop Gorman 1, Arbor View 1 — Angelica Pawlowski stopped Falon Miller’s low penalty kick right down the middle to help the Gaels (14-3-3) to a 4-2 shootout decision over the Aggies (13-2-3).

“I just went with my gut feeling,” Pawlowski said. “It was all reaction. It was amazing. I just tried not to psyche myself out. I tried to stay as calm as I could.”

Kaila Brinkman, Mia Moore, Charlotte Brascia and Haley Wingender each converted a shootout kick for Gorman, which advanced to face Centennial in Tuesday’s region final.

Hayley Fife and Haley Vicente each scored in the shootout for Arbor View.

Moore scored off a penalty kick to help the Gaels to a 1-0 halftime lead, but Arbor View’s Jordan Arnold scored in the second half to tie the match.