Morgan Hill – It started way back in December but for Morgan Hill’s Colby Carson and Samantha Riolo the journey ended with double gold medals. The Central Valley Chilipeppers girls U11 soccer club pulled off an unbelievable dual State titles run winning both the Norcal Premier Leagues Norcal Cup and the CYSA State Cup.
In the Norcal Cup the Peppers had a first round bye due to their No. 1 seeding, in the second round they would face the Almaden Valley Girls. The Peppers quickly dispatched them 8 – 2.
In the third round the Peppers would face a scrappy Sacramento Red Extreme and on a wet and rainy field the Peppers would hold on for a 2 – 1 win.
Now into the quarterfinals the Peppers would face a very good Santa Rosa Gold team Santa Rosa would take a 1 – 0 lead into the half using the wind to their advantage but the Peppers would answer with three second half goals and move into the semifinals to face the Bay Oaks Speed Demons.
In a game that was so foggy you could not see from one end of the field to the other the Peppers would come out on top 3 -1 in a very physically contested game.
This would set up a Championship match against the Peppers No. 1 rival Danville’s Mustang Blast in a classic matchup the Peppers won the Norcal title 1 -0 .
While the Norcal tournament was being held State Cup had also started and the Peppers were slated in the Group of Death with Burlingame, Placer and Mustang.
The Peppers were peaking at the right time as they dispatched both Burlingame and Placer with identical 7 – 0 scores.
The final game against the Mustang would decide who continued on in State Cup. The game was played here in Morgan Hill before approximately 300 people as both sides knew what as at stake. The Peppers played one of their most dominating games in dispatching Mustang 3 – 0.
In the round of 16 the Peppers beat a very determined Dublin Fighters team 6 – 0. On to the quarter finals where the Peppers would face Morgan Hill’s own Orchard Valley Storm in Sacramento, friends would face each other.
The Peppers jumped on top right away as Riolo found Gabi Squarcia around five minutes in, the Storm held on to keep it at 1 -0 at the half all though the Peppers had several other chances. In the second half it would be all Peppers as they tallied 3 more goals by Marianna Galvan, Zarette Munoz and Jessica Jochheim as the Storm was sent home 4 – 0.
In the semifinals the Peppers faced a very tough Livermore team. The Peppers would score early off a cross from Riolo to Munoz but Livermore would hang tough battling constantly to keep Carson from hitting the back of the net in the second half. Carson found Galvan on the back post to secure the win and a spot in the finals.
In the finals with the State title on the line against a very determined San Juan team from Sacramento. There would be no denying Carson and Riolo as they got the Peppers off to 1 – 0 lead two minutes into the game as Riolo threaded a pass to the streaking Carson who put it into the back of the net.
The Peppers would have several opportunities that just missed and 1- 0 would be the score at the half.
In the second half Carson would breakaway on a beautiful pass by Munoz to make it 2 – 0. Munoz would put the final goal in on a penalty kick with five minutes remaining to make the final 3 – 0.
All in all when Peppers scored 32 goals on their State Cup run while allowing none.
The Peppers defense was lead by Goalie Leslie Nelson, backs Brea Ross, Hannah Vane, Chloe Ainley and Chloe Varvell. Their fantastic midfield of Mariana Galvan, Brittany Squarcia, Sam Riolo and Celeste Kaashoek would control play and the tempo while Colby Carson, Zarette Munoz, Gabi Squarcia and Lauren Saenz would pressure the opponent’s defense from the forward positions.
