Maria Dela Cruz wanted to send outgoing Granite Bay high school girls soccer coach Chris Roberts with a match to remember Saturday.
Therefore, the senior goalie several great saves, including game decider slowly, helping Granite Bay (15-4-2) maintains a 1-0 victory over Sierra Foothill League compete Rocklin (17-4-2) in the championship game-Sac Joaquin Section Division II in Cosumnes Oaks High School.
"What more can I say about Maria Dela Cruz?", said Roberts, who will become an assistant principal at a middle school next fall Grass Valley. "Had a great saving in PKs on Thursday to win Bella Vista. That was almost sent to us through today, and is held on our end.
"Man, I thought that ball was going."
Roberts was talking half-second shot by Shannon Garvella's Rocklin, a moving knuckling 30-yard Dela Cruz collapsed only see curl to the left-hand corner of the goal. He made a desperate dive, jerk away the ball with his left hand before it crossed the goal.
"The whole game and all-season flashed before me," said Dela Cruz. "My colleagues Were seeing faces. … It was a miracle. "
Rocklin was defeated and associated Granite Bay won the SFL.
The objective of a free kick off Morgan Geiger from 19 minutes to Kayla Karlsson matching helped to boost the confidence of the Cougars.
"This is the first time that we scored first during this era, Rocklin," Roberts said. "Be nice to have them Chase us for once".
It was a chase that it was futile for Lightning, who lost for the fifth time in nine years in the D-II.
Roberts said he won the title of the section, the second Granite Bay football girls, and first since 2002, was a testament to tenacity of players. The Cougars needed late-season push to qualify for the postseason.
"I do not suppose it goes with a better group of girls," said Roberts, who has coached for eight seasons.
Rio Americano 2, Benicia 0 (OT) -Junior forward Alexa Heinzer also showed off two overtime goals supports by Lauren Kohatsu and Julia Butterfield to lead the Raiders to the d-III title and 19-0-0 finish.
Rio Americano, ranks No. 8 nationally by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America, dominated play in regulation when the Titans (15-4-2), the Raiders longtime adversaries.
One minute into the first of two overtimes 10 minutes, left-footed Heinzer a shot into the net from 15 yards which was set up by the passage of a cross from Kohatsu Merrick Kira.
Added an insurance goal Heinzer, the 26th of the season, the 38th minute from Butterfield's cross.
It was disappointing that we were ' to go to overtime, "said Heinzer, who transferred to Rio Americano when closed Loretto. "But we are a group of really close. Just keep encouraging each other. "
It was the fourth consecutive time the two schools met for the title D III. Benicia won the 2008 and 2010. Rio Americano won in 2009.
1, Saint Francis Davis 0 (OT) target of Courtney Jimenez in the ninth minute of the first overtime, led the Blue Devils (24-1-1) past of Troubadours (15-8-1), ending St. Francis ' three-year Reign as the D-I champion.
Jimenez scored in front of the goal after the merger in the partner Anna Gilbertson 17-yard missile hit from the correct location.
"Just happened to be in the right place at the right time," said Jimenez gymnasium. "All I could think about is how much these girls deserved the victory, especially seniors."
Davis was the first section Title since 2007 and fourth overall.
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