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AV JV girls take first in Thanksgiving soccer tournament
Team off to great start on new season

Amador Valley's junior varsity soccer girls opened their season with a first place in the annual Thanksgiving Tournament hosted by Cal High, notching four straight wins over the weekend and scoring 36 points.

Play on Friday was highlighted by a strong defense and goal keeping, and just enough scoring to post 1-0 wins over Livermore and Dublin. The first match started with fairly even play on both sides, but midway through the first half, freshman midfielder Brookey Villanueva found the net on a shot from 20 yards out, putting Amador ahead, 1-0. Working various different lineups and positions, Coach Steve Boehm was able to keep the defense tight, and Amador closed it out.

In the second game the Dons were challenged early but settled in when sophomore forward Sarah Pease beat the keeper on a breakaway run, finishing off a beautiful through-ball from the midfield. The defense again closed down Dublin's offense and completed its second shutout.

On Saturday the team heated up on offense, scoring two goals within the first two minutes during their first game against an over-matched Antioch squad. Anna Copenhagen, a sophomore midfielder, directed a nice cross into the back of the net on the opening kick-off, followed 90 seconds later by an excellent 12-yard finish from freshman midfielder Eilis "Irish" Hagerty. The team added three more goals during the game -- two from freshman offensive midfielder Nicole Tsuno, who, along with Eilis Hagerty in the middle, looks to be a catalyst for the Dons this year. Sarah Pease also connected on a score, and the team coasted to a 5-0 win.

The Dons were more challenged in their second match vs. a fast and well-coached Northgate team, but the defense held firm once again, lead by Katelyn Kramer, Ally Nickel, Bridget Beck, Kate Chase, Rachel Barta and Sara Gibbons. The Dons scored two more goals in the final match, the first an impressive run by Sarah Pease between defenders and an in-stride shot past a diving keeper in the final seconds of the first half. The second came on a glancing, re-direct header combination from Copenhagen to Pease just before time ran out on the 2-0 victory.

The Dons staunch defense completed the weekend with an impressive zero goals allowed, allowing only a few quality shots along the way, which were handled easily by GK Janelle Richmond.