Flash stop Speed, Surge
CUPERTINO – Once again, the De Anza Flash won two games in as many days. On Saturday at their home field in Cupertino, De Anza took on the Scotts Valley Speed and won 4-0. Brittany Barnes, of Gilroy, could do no wrong and notched a hat-trick. Teammate Kelly Logan completed the scoring by hitting a Nicole Hovey cross from 15 yards out to the lower left corner.
On Sunday, the Flash played their nemesis, the South San Jose Surge – which always turns out to be a barnburner. Cayla Derry, of Gilroy, opened the scoring in the first five minutes on a set play. Trish Dunwoodie took the freekick from 35 yards near the right touch line. While the Surge held the Flash at the top of their penalty box, Dunwoodie kicked a slicing shot into the far side of the box. Derry slipped behind the defense and received the pass on her left thigh, dropped it to her right foot and smacked a shot to the far post. The half ended 1-0.
The second half opened with a nod on another set play from almost the same spot as the first at less than five minutes in. This time, however, it was for the Surge. The pass came into the box and was headed just inside the near post, 1-1.
Three minutes later from a corner kick, Sarah Whitling passed to Logan – who knocked the ball near post to give the Flash a 2-1 edge. Still within the first10 minutes of the second half, the Surge responded with a blast from eight yards out after a strong buildup from the left side.
For the next 15 minutes, the play continued end-to-end. With 15 minutes left, Kendra Sato hit a ball into the box. A Surge defender hit the ball with her hand to give the Flash a penalty shot. Maurya Campeau took the penalty calmly and simply with a low, firm shot to her left for the game-winner.
Flash goalie Melanie Regan owned her penalty box throughout the affair. The first-year keeper player her most complete game of the year and demonstrated all that she has learned – repeatedly racing to through balls to snatch the ball from the Surge attackers. The Surge could not exploit their high cross attack because Regan caught every pass well above everyone’s head. She even got to demonstrate her one-step power dive to move from the center of her goal and catch a low shot on her left post.
Outside backs Bub Seifert and Shelly Pund denied any serious attacks from the wings and Katie Ramos played very aggressively from the stopper position. Alison Wan, who has been injured for the last four games, did a solid job clarifying rotations and keeping the coach in his seat.
The Flash play the Los Gatos Magic at 9 a.m. next Sunday and finish their season on November 15 against Mountain View.
FLASH TO SERVICE: The De Anza Flash – made up of local soccer players from Gilroy, Morgan Hill, and San Martin – missed a chance to play in a soccer tournament over the weekend and took the opportunity to start giving back to the game.
Saturday and Sunday should have been spent at the Almaden Classic – but four weeks ago the Flash received a rejection letter. Instead of taking the weekend off in preparation for their last four games, they scheduled and completed a Grade 8 referee course. Now 10 of the 13 team members (and some of their parents) are licensed referees.
Al Posada and Mike Herbach representing more than 70 years of referee experience presented a Friday evening and two full days of instruction and stories. Flash players Jessica Seifert, Cayla Derry, Maurya Campeau (and her mom, Dina), Kendra Sato (and her brother Ryan), Brittany Barnes, Alison Wan and Melanie Regan all completed the 100-question exam successfully.
They now join teammates Sarah Whitling, Trish Dunwoodie and Nicole Hovey as soccer officials. Two Almaden Ladybugs players Kristine Higgins (and her mom, Silvia) and Sheena Ino as well as Valentine Barrellega (a USSF D coach from Santa Cruz County Soccer Club) also successfully completed the requirements.
On Sunday afternoon, amid high-fives, cheers and the sounds of their first whistles, all agreed that they couldn’t wait to referee their first games.
