Carpinteria scored two first-half goals and that was enough to beat Laguna Blanca, 2-0, in a non-league girls soccer match on Monday.
Ava Cropper beat the Laguna goalkeeper from 20 yards for the first goal and Kelsie Bryant tallied the second when she brilliantly headed in a cross from Monica Garcia.
“We stayed in control for most of the match and had a few good quality chances but the score would remain the same,” Carpinteria coach Charles Bryant said. “We had moments of well-timed passes and runs but had a lot of trouble sustaining those efforts.”
Laguna controlled the early part of the match until Carpinteria scored the first goal.
“Towards the end of the first half, we began to battle more for the ball and were able to exert some pressure, but we were unable to create any quality chances,” Laguna coach Kevin Shertzer said.
The Owls fought off several attacks by Carpinteria in the second half. Goalkeeper Mitsi Gamble made a number of crucial saves and the defense of Hannah White, Nadia Belton, Sarah Butler, Demari Braly, Elia Doussineau, and Lexi Yabsley gave a tremendous effort in keeping the second half scoreless, noted Shertzer.
“As a coach, I was happy to see such progress, taking into account that we lost our first game 6-0. To see such progress in a short time bodes well for the future,” he said.
