Gaels Shutout the Sonoma State Seawolves 2-0
Gaels Shutout the Sonoma State Seawolves 2-0
By: Christian Portillo
MORAGA, CALIF. - After officially opening the season in Stockton last Sunday with a 4-2 win over the University of Pacific, the St. Mary’s Women’s Club Soccer team returned to Moraga to face the Sonoma State Seawolves.
St. Mary’s goalkeeper, Arezu Amirkiai, had three quick saves early in the match. However, her instincts and skills were tested simultaneously when a Seawolf had a one-on-one situation with her. Amirkiai performed admirably as she slide-tackled the Seawolf for her fourth save before she could even get a shot off. This was a big save for the Gaels. Amirkiai had two more saves before she was kicked in the face diving for a ball on the left side of the box. It was a scary moment for all as she remained flat on the ground for a while before help came. She got up on her own strength to a round of applause and bravely played for the rest of the game.
The Gaels scored with thirteen minutes left until halftime off of a perfectly placed cross pass from the right side for the goal to lead the Seawolves 1-0.
At halftime, the Gaels had nine total shots and converted on one. Meanwhile, Sonoma State attempted six shots, which were all saved by the Gaels’ goalkeeper, Arezu Amirkiai.
Amirkiai continued her stellar play after the half, collecting two easy saves and then saving a possible momentum-shifting header that came from Sonoma State’s quick transition offense. Sonoma State later had an open shot that came off a cross pass, but Amirkiai was there to save the day.
Jackie Escobar had a great steal and pass to Jamie Cimino, who didn’t score but recovered the ball nicely and reset the offense. A cross pass was then made to the open weak side, leading to an easy goal for the Gaels and a 2-0 lead seven minutes and twenty seconds into the second half.
Soccer, naturally, is a physical sport and sometimes things can get chippy. Sonoma State was getting frustrated by the physical fronting and pushing, which made things dicey. One Sonoma State player aggressively pushed a St. Mary’s player, who responded with a strong push of her own, and then punches were thrown. The competitive fire within got the best of both of them. The swinging continued and everyone came to separate the two. Fortunately, the punching was broken up before things got too serious. As with all things, there are consequences, and both players were given a red card and had to sit out the rest of the match.
With both teams down one player, the match continued and no more fights ensued. However, there were plenty of offsides with both teams trying to take advantage of the one less opposing player on the field.
Sonoma State did have one last opportunity to score when Amirkiai was too far up the box defending and missed the ball, leaving an open goal, but the Seawolves just barely missed left.
St. Mary’s would go on to win, shutting Sonoma State out 2-0. Sonoma State attempted fourteen shots but converted zero. St. Mary’s attempted a dozen shots and made two. Arezu Amirkiai had twelve saves for the Gaels. Although things got chippy at one time, both teams put up a valiant effort.
With this win, St. Mary’s improves to 2-0 on the season and will have about a month of practice time before their next match against the University of San Francisco, which will be on Sunday, October 25, at 10:00 in the morning in Moraga.