Bonfiglio scores tying goal in second half for Lady Acorns
SAN JOSE – Defense was the key to the game as the No. 6 seed Live Oak girls soccer team (16-3-4) battled the No. 3 Leland (12-7-3) to a 1-1 tie in the CCS Division I championships Saturday at Valley Christian High School.
According to junior Michelle McDonald, the team played hard and a tie was a let down.
“We are disappointed knowing that we played so well and we didn’t get what we want,” McDonald said.
For Acorn head coach Tony Vasquez, the game was a little more special. Although his team was playing in the CCS championships, he was going up against his brother, which Vasquez said made the game a little more exciting.
“It was a fun time,” Vasquez said. “We were all nervous. But to play against my brother made it fun.”
The Acorns’ defense slipped early in the first half as the defense collapsed allowing Leland to score in the ninth minute.
Late in the second half, Live Oak did force the ball past the goal line off a corner kick that landed amidst three Acorns. After bouncing the ball around a few times, senior Bridgette Bonfiglio poked the ball in tying the score 1-1.
Four rounds of overtime were played: one 20 minute set, broken in 10 minute halves; and two five minute sudden death rounds. Each time, despite strong ball handling by Live Oak, Leland was able to survive forcing this year’s CCS championships to end with co-champions.
