Tornadoes topple Quakes
TORNADOES 2, SANTA CRUZ QUAKES 1
GILROY – Although slowed by illness (Alex Seda was not available, and several players were a bit under the weather) and slightly weary after the first few days of school, the Tornadoes started the season on the right note with a 2-1 win over the Quakes.
The Tornadoes front-line and midfield (Taylor Johnson, Amanda Kline, Amanda Whitling, Bella Comin, JC Clayton, Sarah Block, Clarissa Hammer, Lexi MacPhail, and Mary Thatcher) kept almost constant offensive pressure on the Quakes in the first half, but it was a scoreless tie until Taylor Johnson bounced a shot past the Quakes goalie for a 1-0 lead.
Tornadoes goalie Nichole Downing kept the Quakes off the board with a couple of nice saves in the early going, paying for the saves with a couple of painful shots to the head. It was 1-0 at the half, and the Quakes made some strong offensive pushes to open the second half.
The Tornadoes’ always tough defense, anchored by Stephanie Wan, Cloey LemMon, and Lindsay Pund, kept the Quakes off the board. The Tornadoes answered with some offensive pressure of their own, almost scoring on an excellent setup pass from Johnson that Lexi MacPhail banged high and hard, but her shot just caught the left post.
The Tornadoes finally got an insurance goal when Sarah Block stole a Quakes goal kick and rolled her left footed shot past the goalie for a 2-0 lead. That goal turned out to be critical, as the Quakes countered almost immediately with a breakaway goal to cut the lead to 2-1. The Tornadoes kept the Quakes from mounting any further serious threats however, and held on for the win.
Next week the Tornadoes host the DeAnza Freedom.
