SOCCER: Wildcat girls dominate in home opener 7-1,
Sonora defeated Calaveras 7-1 Thursday evening at Sonora High School’s Dunlavy Field in the home opener for the Wildcats girls’ varsity soccer team at the start of a season shortened due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions.
“It felt nerve-wracking,” senior Wildcats co-captain Sidney Rojas said after the match. “It’s been such a long time since everybody’s working with the ball. We always have a great team.”
Sonora’s win Thursday came two days after Sonora defeated Calaveras 6-1 at Toyon Middle School in Valley Springs. Before that, it had been more than a year since the Mother Lode League rivals had played each other.
Amarys Machado, number 7 for Sonora, is a senior co-captain for the Wildcats and she has scored seven goals in her past two matches. She scored five in the 6-1 defeat of Calaveras on Tuesday, and she scored two more Thursday evening.
“We’re blessed and excited to be back playing,” Machado said after the win Thursday. “Being back on the field we’re trying to get a sense of each other. We’re playing as a team.”
Sonora jumped out to a 4-0 lead on Calaveras on first-half goals by Machado, Mia Degrazio, Machado again, and Ella Wolken.
Wolken, number 12 for Sonora, struck a free kick that cleared a wall of Calaveras defenders to score her goal. Gabrielle Frediani scored for Sonora early in the second half to extend Sonora’s lead to 5-0.
Calaveras kept fighting for chances. Later in the second half, they got their chance to celebrate when Sydney Remus crossed the ball so that onrushing Emma Alliende could slam it into Sonora’s goal at close range.
“I’m just really grateful we have the opportunity to play again,” Alliende said after the match at Dunlavy Field. “I didn’t think we would have any season at all.”
Remus said she received a short pass outside the Sonora box, took a couple touches and struck it with her left foot to cross it to Alliende. Remus is not left-footed but her control was perfect.
Ava Vann and Alexia Villegas each scored for the Wildcats to make the final score Sonora 7 Calaveras 1.
In Tuesday’s game, Machado scored five goals and Tyler King scored one goal for Sonora.
Sonora plays Bret Harte twice next week, Tuesday in Angels Camp and Thursday at Dunlavy Field. They also play Summerville on Tuesday, March 30, and Thursday, April 1. The next competitive match for Calaveras is at home next Thursday against Amador.