The #5 Varsity Soccer team beat #12 Canyon View in the second round of the Open State Soccer Tournament last night, 7-0. This was a great team win and everyone on the team contributed.

The Gators got on the scoreboard early when senior Myriam Lawrence took a corner kick and fellow senior midfielder Kateri Etsitty headed the ball in for the 1-0 score.
 

The Gators would score another set-piece goal when senior captain Nev Herzog served a beautiful corner kick and fellow senior Kyleigh Carr out-jumped everyone to head the ball in for the 2-0 score. 

The third goal was scored when senior defender Ivy Schuman intercepted a ball and directed a left-footed shot to the far post for the 3-0 score. 

After half-time, the Gators kept their foot on the gas, scoring the fourth goal when Kateri delivered a perfect pass to senior Blair Calihan, who would touch the ball to the inside and score a far-post shot that the Canyon View goalkeeper could not handle. 

The fifth goal was scored when junior outside defender Reese Koehler served a high ball in the Box that the goalkeeper mishandled, and Kateri was there to knock the ball in for the score. 

The sixth goal occurred when junior forward Dylan Cook was fouled in the penalty area, and Xavier was awarded a penalty kick. Senior midfielder Lara Henderson converted the penalty kick. 

The seventh and final goal of the night was scored when Myriam slipped a beautiful pass in behind the defense, and senior captain Francesca Diaz outran the Canyon View defenders to pass the ball underneath the goalkeeper for the score. 

There were many players that played extremely well last night. Senior forward Elie Lopez played an incredible game and brought great energy and skill to the match and proved to be one of the big difference makers in the game. 

Senior goalkeeper Chloe Cundiff also came up with a big save in the match to keep a clean sheet.
 

Center backs Sophia Knox and Bianca Willis played great along with outside backs Ivy Schuman and Reese Kohler. Kateri and Nev were very good and junior Sadie Becker had a nice performance. 

The #5 Gators will now face #4 Basha on Tuesday night on Basha's home field at 6:00 p.m. for the Quarterfinals of the State Tournament. We hope all the friends and classmates of the soccer team will travel out to the East Valley to support this great group of girls. 

Good luck and go Gator soccer!