Wingender, Gaels blitz Clark to clinch Southwest League crown

Bishop Gorman’s Haley Wingender unleashed a shot that glanced off the near post less than two minutes into Thursday’s girls soccer match at Clark.

It was one of her few misses all day.

Wingender notched two goals and three assists as the Gaels clinched the Southwest League title with a 6-1 win over the host Chargers.

“She’s been so helpful with our offense this year,” Gorman coach Lora Feely said. “She can score, but she’s also not afraid to dish the ball off to her team at times.

“She’s been working really hard. Her finishing has been right on, and her pace on the ball is ridiculous.”

Mia Moore opened the scoring in the seventh minute by slipping the ball into the right corner of the net after catching Clark goalkeeper Keri Thacker off her line. Ashlee Beckwith volleyed a pass from Wingender into the right netting two minutes later.

Meghan Brascia scored a goal in the 13th minute, also on an assist by Wingender.

Wingender, who has 26 goals and 16 assists on the season, then went to work attacking the goal.

The midfielder poached a pass from Clark’s defense and then hammered home a shot in the 32nd minute to put the Gaels up 4-0 at halftime.

“I know that I’m close to leading in goals right now, and my dad motivates me to get more,” Wingender said. “Every time I get a certain amount of goals, he rewards me.

“It helps me help my team and keep my team in the lead. When I push hard, everyone else will go up with me.”

The Gaels had 11 shots in the first half to five for the Chargers (13-7, 8-4 Southwest), who fell into a tie for second place in the league with Spring Valley.

Kaylee Vitale made four saves in goal for the Gaels, including a 54th-minute stop off her heel after a blistering shot by Kristin Hoag.

Clark had four shots in the second half, including a goal by Azucena Bernal that skirted underneath Vitale.

“I’ve been playing with my team for three years now, and you know where they’re going to be,” said Wingender, a junior. “You know they’ll make the runs; you just have to trust them to make the runs for you. And then it all just flows.”

Moore and Wingender each scored in the second half for Gorman, which has allowed only five goals to in-state opponents all season.

“We’re doing our best to get ready for playoffs,” Feely said. “I think we’re starting to get to the point to where we’re almost there.

“They know what the ultimate goal is, and they’re willing to put the time in to get there.”