United team earns fourth place in Fall league
Morgan Hill – The Orchard Valley United soccer team, coached by Cathy Cunningham, Allison Cunningham and Becky Weirshauser, went undefeated in spring play and finished up in fourth place overall in fall league play. With most games scoreless, or ending within one goal, the United girls played strong week after week.
District Cup II play proved successful for the United girls under 9 team, with three wins and one tie.
The first game against the Shooting Stars was a big offensive game for the United Team, with two of the goals being scored in the first five minutes of the game. With a final of 7 to 0, it was a great start to tournament play.
The offense was lead by CC Contreras, Tamlin Vereyken, Madison Bohn, and Alexis Slattery. Defense was key to keep the Shooting Stars scoreless, and Taylor Dempsey kept most shots from reaching goalies Taylor Cupples and Kayla Owen, who had over fifteen saves.
The second game of the day was against the Hollister Road Runners. With only two hours rest, the girls played strong against the Road Runners, having split a pair of games in regular season play.
Great defense was once again part of the United strength, with Claire Giacalone and Emilie Allaert, with the assistance of Dempsey, to keep the Road Runners scoreless after their only goal in the first half. The United team made a go-ahead goal, only to be called back on off-sides.
Sunday tournament play started against the Mount Pleasant Strikers. Once again, offense was key, with Bohn, Lauren Putney, and Carly Kyle keeping the ball on the Strikers side of the field through most of the first half. Nicole Carson and Putney played strong forward and midfield, with Dempsey protecting keeper Cupples.
With three hours rest, the United team faced a very strong Mount Hamilton Lady Aztec team.
The first half was very defensive, with the only goal made in the last three minutes of the half. Contreras came off the sidelines and within seconds lobbed the ball past the Aztec goalie to go into halftime with a 1-0 lead.
The second half was exciting, with both teams playing with great intensity. Giacalone, Kayla Owen and Allaert played the defense like a wall, and Slattery was unstoppable at midfield, and Vereyken scored five minutes into the second half, with Carson scoring the insurance goal to make the final 3 to 0.
