Girls soccer team wins NCS games

The varsity girls soccer team fought their hardest this season. Throughout the season, they’ve won and lost their matches but still performed their greatest. The team won two NCS games and advanced past the first round of NCS playoffs for the first time in 20 years.

The girls soccer team made it to the semifinals, but unfortunately that’s where their season ended. 

“This season really proves to me how much perseverance is a thing because we started off rough and it was hard to keep going, but we made it all the way to the semifinals. So, I think it shows that effort will pay off,” said senior Kiana Ayllon, one of the team captains.

The first round of NCS was on Feb. 18 against Piner. They held a close match, eventually going to overtime with a score of 0-0.

As overtime ended, the score stayed the same, leading to penalty kicks.

Goalie Kate Pereur saved two penalties in the shoot out. She also saved a penalty in the overtime segment.

Lily Cook scored the winning penalty kick after each player took part in delivering theirs, bringing the team forward in victory.

Castro Valley won against Piner with a score of 4-3.

Passing the first round of NCS, the second round began. On Feb. 22,Trojans played against Freedom.

Ayllon and Hailey Smith each scored goals, controlling the score to be in the team’s hands.

Rainey Rinaldi scored her first goal this season and then scored another.  Her second goal sealed the win for Castro Valley, 4-1. 

The Trojans fought in the games against their opponents during the past two rounds, fortunately having been strong enough to advance to the semifinals.

On Feb. 25, Trojans went up against Petaluma.

With consistent yet tireless fighting over the ball back and forth, the match went to overtime with a score of 0-0.

Similar to the first NCS round, the Trojans didn’t give up. The girls kept going. However, as overtime came to an end, the score was still 0-0. This led to penalty kicks, which determined who would win the third round of NCS.

Fingers crossed, breath healed, and mouths closed, everyone in the stands and on field watched closely as the singular player prepared themselves for the kick.

People in the stands roared as a kick went in or a penalty got saved. The girls on the field held each other tightly, cheering as well.

Unluckily, the celebrations on our side came to a stop as our final kick missed the goal, the point being given to Petaluma.

Trojans had lost the semifinals against Petaluma with a score of 5-4.

Despite the season ending before making it to the championship, the girls varsity soccer team held up to the very end, making it a successful season. The team itself made great memories, friendships, and improvement.

“I feel like the most important thing this season was that everyone really bonded and it showed on the field,” said sophomore Hannah Sommerhalter.