Three penalty kicks lift Heat past Modesto Elites Morgan Hill
The Morgan Hill-Gilroy Heat 10-and-under girls soccer team won the
NorCal state championship by overcoming the Modesto Elites 3-2 in a
series of penalty kicks on Nov. 18 at Granite Park Field in
Sacramento.
Three penalty kicks lift Heat past Modesto Elites
Morgan Hill
The Morgan Hill-Gilroy Heat 10-and-under girls soccer team won the NorCal state championship by overcoming the Modesto Elites 3-2 in a series of penalty kicks on Nov. 18 at Granite Park Field in Sacramento.
Playing in Division 1 amongst 40 teams from northern California, the Heat won six games, lost two, and tied one en route to the championship. Opponents only scored three goals on the Heat throughout the tournament.
The championship regulation game against the Elites went to double overtime and resulted in a 0-0 tie.
Parents provided support from the sidelines and the tension reached its peak as the Heat and Elite went to penalty kicks to decide the champion.
Brooke Zenner, Samantha Gonzalez and Lauren Putney stepped up and scored penalty kicks to secure the victory for the Heat as thunderous shouting and applause rained down on the field from the sidelines.
“Although they were physically exhausted, the girls constantly gave it their all,” coach Troy Carson said. “Their spirits were always high, and they never allowed the losses to get them down.
“The girls were consistently adept at their shots on goal, and team play was evident in their ball handling.”
