Malia Morales assisted on Tuesday’s game-winning goal for Dos Pueblos.
Dos Pueblos’ 1-0 victory over San Marcos was more than just a rivalry win. The result put the Chargers in position to win their first Channel League championship in school history.
The Chargers completed their league season on Tuesday with a record of 6-1-1. Buena, which finishes its league schedule on Thursday against Santa Barbara, is 5-0-2. Dos Pueblos will need Santa Barbara to win or draw with Buena on Thursday in order to secure the title.
San Marcos, on the other hand, wants Buena to win in order to have a chance at a playoff berth. The Royals must couple a victory against Ventura with a Buena win to make it.
Anya Schmitz scored in the 34th minute on a throw-in by Malia Morales. The throw-in bounced off a clump of players and hit the ground. Schmitz was there to quickly get the shot off while sliding to the ground.
“I just tried to react before someone got to it,” Schmitz said.
The sophomore said she was happy to help the team get a win on Senior Day with 11 teammates being honored. Dos Pueblos head coach Hugh Hollis started all 11 but worked Schmitz and Morales, a junior, into the game.
“Most of the goals I’ve scored this season have been off of Malia’s throws so she’s a big asset to our team,” Schmitz said. “I don’t know what we’d do without her. It’s like a corner kick every time she throws it in.”
Hollis said the Chargers have been doing a good job of forcing turnovers in the opposing team’s defensive third of the field to put Morales in position to create.
“As a result of that we were able to convert one of Malia’s throws into a goal,” Hollis said. “Anya seems to know how to get in the right place at the right time.”
San Marcos’ best chance to score came in the second half on a corner kick by Chloe Hamer. Allison Bliss headed the ball down to the ground and Lucia Lynn was able to get a shot on goal. Dos Pueblos defender Rocky Uyesaka was on the goal line in just the right place to block the shot and clear the ball.
“I thought that we did hold them well. We matched up with them,” said Royals head coach Macie Berlin. “I thought it was a 50-50 game. I think anybody who watched that game wouldn’t say that they dominated possession or that we did.”
Editor’s note: An earlier version of this post incorrectly stated that Buena had lost on Tuesday, giving Dos Pueblos the league title.
