The Tornadoes continued their incredible run in their first year
of Class I competition with a victory this weekend at the Morgan
Hill soccer complex. The Tornadoes are a team of Morgan Hill,
Gilroy, and Hollister girls who compete in the SSJYSL. The girls
showed their incredible team defense throughout the tournament.
Everyone contributed to the cause.
The Tornadoes continued their incredible run in their first year of Class I competition with a victory this weekend at the Morgan Hill soccer complex.
The Tornadoes are a team of Morgan Hill, Gilroy, and Hollister girls who compete in the SSJYSL. The girls showed their incredible team defense throughout the tournament. Everyone contributed to the cause.
The Tornadoes roster includes Sarah Block, JC Clayton, Bella Comin, Nichole Downing, Taylor Johnson, Amanda Kline, Cloey LemMon, Lexi MacPhail, Nikita Patel, Lindsay Pund, Alex Seda, Mary Thatcher, Stephanie Wan, and Amanda Whitling.
With so many girls who play multiple positions on this team it is inaccurate to classify them by position.
The Tornadoes are coached by head coach Bob Whitling, and assistants Don Pund and Ballan Campeau.
SSJYSL TORNADOES 1,
WEST VALLEY DIVAS 1
The Tornadoes started out the tournament looking to get off on the right foot against a team they had handled before this season. It looked as if the game would go according to plan as the Tornadoes struck first when Alex Seda pried the ball loose from the Divas, and moved it ahead to JC Clayton. Clayton made a strong run up the left side, and pounded the ball into the net for the 1-0 lead.
However, no one gave the game script to the Divas, who continued to fight hard and play solid defense. The Divas scored to tie it at 1, and the Tornadoes, although having a couple of excellent chances, were unable to break the tie.
SSJYSL TORNADOES 2,
SAN CARLOS INFERNO 0
The Tornadoes buckled down in the second game on Saturday, although the early going was ominous. The Tornadoes missed four very solid early scoring opportunities. The Tornadoes finally broke through when JC Clayton controlled a ball near midfield, and pushed it ahead to Bella Comin, who outran her defender and cleanly beat the goalie.
Comin later scored an insurance goal on a tough shot from the end line after a nice setup from a Lindsay Pund throw in.
SSJYSL TORNADOES 1,
MVLA CYBERRAYS 1
The Tornadoes went into Sunday‚s play in fairly good shape with a win and a tie, but ran into a strong and determined Cyberrays team. The Rays scored in the first half on a corner kick, and were playing such strong defense that it did not appear that the Tornadoes would dent the goal.
Fortunately, the Tornadoes’ not-so-secret weapon, leading scorer Taylor Johnson, stepped up and with less than three minutes to play, scored a tying goal off a Cyberrays mishandle. The Tornadoes had to settle for the tie, and hope their points lead from Saturday was sufficient. The tournament gods were kind, and although the Divas scored a 1-0 victory in their Sunday morning game, the Tornadoes advanced to the finals by a one-point margin.
SSJYSL TORNADOES 1, STANFORD WILDFIRE 0
The finals matched the Tornadoes against a tough Wildfire team with strong scoring potential. The Tornadoes had the advantage of a strong wind at their backs in the first half, and scored early when Taylor Johnson was fouled in the penalty box. Johnson cashed the PK, and it looked as though the Tornadoes were off and running.
However, that was the only goal they connected on. JC Clayton hit the crossbar on a direct kick, and the prettiest goal of the tournament, Bella Comin scoring off a sweet outside-of-the-foot push pass from Clayton, was disallowed on an offside call against Comin.
The Tornadoes faced a determined Wildfire team playing with the wind in their favor in the second half, but the Tornadoes’ defense showed up with a great all around effort.
Every Tornadoes player contributed to shut out the Wildfire and bring home the Cup.
