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Cards Chelsea Welsh trying to find an open shot for a goal. |
He is also very nostalgic about his senior class this year as they have been very productive the previous two years winning back-to-back league titles. Hoping for another big championship run, he is high on all his returning seniors and mentioned his goalie Katie Falls who was a rookie last year, winning all-league honors, and is looking for a breakout year with her hopefully elevating to an elite level.
His one concern is when this senior class graduates the possibility of a lack in experience with his reserves that might be encountered, creating a rebuilding year or two. There are some players who are showing glimpses of stepping up, but because of the depth in this upcoming year’s veteran talent, sometimes a void needs to occur before someone can get the chance to rise to the occasion.
As the team huddles before the match, Mr. Dasnoit is in mid-season form motivating and encouraging the girls to be positive and believe in themselves.
With the first period under way, Santa Paula’s Analee Magana scores the first points putting the Cardinals out in front 1 to 0. This was all the scoring Santa Paula could do in the first half as Oxnard/Newbury Park came back and scored two goals to take a 2-to-1 lead at the end of the second period.
At halftime, Head Coach Dasnoit had a few words and suggestion: “You guys are holding the ball too long in front of the cage; it is allowing the defenders to readjust. Take quick shots, get the ball off right away. Everyone at every play needs to be looking for the ball every single time. You need to look around the pool and say, ‘What can I do to help get the ball to set?’”
Settling down and getting more comfortable, the floating Lady Birds came back in the third period with a strong defense and shut down Oxnard/Newbury Park from scoring any more while the Cardinals offense came back with Izabel Magana scoring a goal and Analee Magana scoring two more goals, the last one with 3 seconds left before the third period ended.
With a 4-to-2 lead, Santa Paula got into a rhythm and, with the help of Izabel and Analee Magana, they scored two more goals in the last period, while allowing only one.
As the final buzzer sounded to end the game, Santa Paula swam away with a 6-to-3 win over “Oxbury” (Oxnard and Newbury Park). Looking good in the off season, the Lady Cards are continually practicing and working on getting better.
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Santa Paula's Analee Magana scoring one of her 5 goals. |
