Inderkum v. Pioneer High coin toss. / Photo: M. Laver
Inderkum girls’ soccer team huddle. / Photo: M. Laver
Danielle McCarthy for Inderkum. / Photo: M. Laver
BY TREVOR HORN
THE NATOMAS BUZZ | @natomasbuzz
It was cool and breezy evening by the time Inderkum High girls’ soccer team tied Pioneer High School, 0-0.
But the the fall-like temperatures and sour taste of the tie were afterthoughts when the Lady Nighthawks learned Woodland High School beat River Valley High School 2-1.
That score clinched Inderkum’s second consecutive Tri-County Conference championship.
“It goes to show all the hard work has paid off,” Inderkum head coach Steven Freitas said.
Inderkum (12-4-4 overall, 6-0-2) remains undefeated in TCC league play.
With just eight minutes left in regulation against Pioneer High, the Patriots received a penalty kick that could have put that undefeated record in serious jeopardy.
But the shot sailed wide-right and the small, vocal Inderkum crowd celebrated a great defensive second half by goal keeper by Shelby Abbott.
“You hope that the soccer gods are on our side at point,” Freitas said of the penalty kick. “It was a warranted call and it’s just one of those that you have to do the best you can with it.”
Inderkum had opportunities to score in the second half.
Senior Ivarie Bourrage had two corner kicks which were placed well near the goal but went wide from the net off the assist attempt.
“It is hard to do corners and set pieces and get them right in front of the goal,” Bourrage said. “I just have to rely on my teammates. It just wasn’t there (Wednesday). But I know they tried hard and I am proud of them.”
Fellow senior Danielle McCarthy appeared to have a good look at the goal, but two Pioneer High defenders collapsed defensively around McCarthy as her shot was wide right in the final minutes.
“It’s hard when everyone comes out hard to play you,” Freitas said. “We have been on top of the league for the last couple of years … This is that hangover game that sneaks up on you.”
Natomas Girls’ Soccer:
Natomas High girls soccer team on Senior Night.
Sophomore Evelyn Cordero scored both goals for Natomas High, including a game-tying score 10 minutes into the second half, as the Lady Nighthawks tied visiting Yuba City High School 2-2.
“This group is special because my first year coaching JV, most of these girls played for me,” Natomas High coach Giovanni Villalobos said of the senior class. “It’s nice that they have been with me for all four years.”
The Honkers got off to a quick start with a goal within the first minute. But Cordero’s first goal tied the score 15 minutes later.
“You never want to go down 1-0. You always want to be the aggressor,” Villalobos said. “But hey, sometimes things don’t go your way. But they showed a lot of heart and came back.”
Natomas High (7-6-4, 2-2-4) and Woodland High School (6-5-1, 3-3-1) both have .500 records in league play, but Natomas has a 14 goal to eight goal advantage over Woodland for the final playoff spot tie-breaker.
The Lady Nighthawks also still have a 1-0 halftime lead over Inderkum in the postponed game from earlier this month which has yet to be played.
And, the two neighborhood rival teams still have one final scheduled game at Inderkum on Monday when Natomas High could try and hold onto the final playoff spot.
“You always want to rack up points, you always want to get points and keep moving forward,” Villalobos said.
Inderkum Boys’ Baseball: The Tigers were eliminated from playoff contention on Wednesday following a 12-2 home loss to Pioneer High School.
Inderkum (11-12, 2-9) needed to win out and get some help from other TCC teams for a slim shot at the postseason, but the Patriots big-four of Division I commits rallied for the win over the Tigers.
The four seniors Marcus Vidales (Cal State Fullerton), Thomas Galart (Nevada-Reno), Robert Daugherty (Washington) and Zach Aukes (Oregon) combined to go 7 for 18 with two home runs and eight RBI in the win.
Troy Thomas had an RBI single for Inderkum in the third inning that tied the game at 1-1. Pioneer High scored 11 runs in the final four innings.
Kishon Williams and Austin Thurman both had singles for the Tigers. The two teams play at Pioneer High on Friday and Inderkum will finish out the season against Natomas High next week.
Natomas Boys’ Baseball: The Nighthawks lost on the road to Yuba City High School, 24-1.
Call in scores or give story ideas to Trevor Horn at [email protected] or call at (916) 390-8593. Follow Trevor on Twitter @trevhorn.
Ivarie Bourrage for Inderkum. / Photo: M. Laver
Danielle McCarthy fights for the ball. / Photo: M. Laver
A header. / Photo: M. Laver
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