Storm team 5-0 in State Cup play; face Central Valley
Chilipeppers
Morgan Hill – The Orchard Valley U11 girls Storm soccer team continued its impressive run in State Cup play with a pair of victories over the past couple of weeks.
After sweeping through pool play in mid January, the Storm traveled to Tracy to play Lamorinda United in the second round.
The Storm struck quickly as Amber Thomas gave Taylor Slattery a perfect pass just as she was slipping behind the defense. Slattery hammered it home for the opening score.
Janessa Garcia quickly followed with a great shot from the top of the box to extend the lead. Before the day was over the Storm would receive goals from Molly Cuevas, Tori Gulla, Monica Luna and Emily Kyle in a surprisingly easy 7-0 victory.
In their third round game the Storm took on the Bay Oaks Speed Demons. Like the Storm, Bay Oaks had already advanced through two rounds of play in shutout fashion.
The Storm opened the scoring midway through the first half as Amber Thomas passed the ball up to Michaela Swensen, who touched it over to Taylor Slattery. Slattery sidestepped the keeper and drilled in the goal. Slattery would add a second goal later in the game for the 2-0 final score.
Forwards Sydney Barker, Macey Dunne and Sarah Lewis each created great scoring opportunities in the second half, but were unable to score the back breaking goal.
It was left to the Storm’s defense to hold the lead, which it did primarily though the great effort of midfielders Paige Menage, Molly Cuevas, Tula Urban and Rebekah Inouye.
With their victory over Bay Oaks, the Storm improved its State Cup record to 5-0-1 and now advances to the “Elite Eight”.
The Storm will face the tough Central Valley Chilipeppers on Saturday at 8:30am in Sacramento at the Cherry Island Soccer Complex. The Chilipeppers are also making an inspired run through the tournament.
The Storm are ranked first in the “Q” bracket for the U11 girls teams. The Storm vaulted above the three other teams in their bracket with shutout wins over the East Diablo Hurricanes and the Sacramento United Extreme and a scoreless tie with the Mill Valley Rockers earlier in the tournament.
The Chilipeppers are also ranked No. 1 in their respective “N” bracket, with wins over the Mustang Blast, the Prestige ’95 Gold and the Burlingame Heartbreakers.
