Second effort pays off big for Paloma Valley

Welch’s late goal after first shot blocked beats Cajon in Division 5 quarterfinal

If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.

Paloma Valley girls water polo player Hannah Welch might have had that saying in mind Saturday.

Welch’s first attempt at a match-winning goal was field blocked by Cajon’s Zoe Griego, but Welch collected the rebound and sent a cross-corner lob into the cage with 19 seconds remaining on the clock to lift the Wildcats to a 4-3 victory in a CIF Southern

Section Division 5 quarterfinal match played at Indian Springs High.

Griego, Cajon’s primary center defender, delivered an outstanding performance from start to finish and registered five field blocks during Saturday’s match. With the score knotted at 3 and time winding down, Welch tried to power a shot inside the near post but was denied by Griego. Welch kept her composure, however, and wasted little time letting a second shot fly.

“I saw it immediately,” Welch said of the opening on the far post. “The goalie had jumped over to one side to try to block the first shot. The opening was right there, so I took it. It was an amazing feeling, but I couldn’t have done it without my teammates.”

Welch is not one of Paloma Valley’s primary scorers, but she has come through in key spots in recent matches.

“She had a big shot to help seal our last win. It’s been a huge week for her,” Wildcats coach Joe Ellett said of Welch.

Paloma Valley (21-6) struggled at the offensive end Saturday afternoon, including a 10-minute drought to begin the match. But the Wildcats were able to match Cajon’s defensive intensity and keep within striking distance.

Cajon’s Pricilla Cardenas had the only goal of the first period, a blast from 9 meters out with 2:36 left on the clock.

Kaylee Gutierrez got Paloma Valley on the scoreboard with a powerplay goal in the second period, one of the few 6-on-5 chances the Wildcats converted (2 for 10). Cajon quickly regained the lead on a counterattack goal by Griego.

Cajon (17-9) extended its lead to 3-1 with 2:14 remaining in the third quarter, when Sarah Alexander

lobbed a pass over a defender into the path of Cardenas, who collected the ball and fired it into the back of the cage.

Chloe Bustos was among the Paloma Valley players who were stymied by Griego, but she switched gears and fired a backhand for a goal that halved the deficit. Gutierrez tied the score on another powerplay goal with 1:01 left in the third period.

“It was incredible fight from both teams,” Ellett said. “I’m just really proud of my girls for keeping their composure and staying in the match. They just continued to work together and eventually found a way to win.”

Cajon coach Arturo Cabrera-villa was proud of his team effort Saturday, especially on the defensive end.

“It has been our saving grace all season long,” Cabrera-villa said. “These girls put in so much work to get the job done.”

Paloma Valley goalkeeper Gianna Bailey recorded seven blocks, while Cajon’s Selah Johnson stopped six shots.

Paloma Valley, the division’s No. 4-seed, will try to avenge one of its previous losses when it travels to top-seeded Chaparral for a semifinal match Saturday. Chaparral defeated the Wildcats 5-3 in January.