Cypress’ Chatum Gee scores the game’s first goal on a wide-open look thanks to an assist from Jenna Dages. (Presidio Sports Photos)
Two high-powered offenses clashed in Scott O’Leary Stadium on Tuesday with visiting Cypress winning out over Dos Pueblos, 4-2, in a CIF Division 3 second-round playoff game.
The Centurions won their 12th match in a row having scored 48 goals during that stretch.
“This was one of our toughest games in a long time,” said Cypress head coach Nicole Woiemberghe. “I know coming in that they’re going to be a strong team but we were really prepared especially defensively.”
Tatum Gee and Rachel McClure scored in the first half for Cypress, which took a 2-1 lead into halftime. Sydnee Busby pushed Cypress’ lead to 3-1 in the 50 minute by heading in a cross from Gee.
Dos Pueblos’ Kiara Pickett answered less than 60 seconds after Busby’s goal with a tough-angled shot that lofted over the Cypress keeper and into the side netting.
Dos Pueblos, which had rallied from a two-goal deficit to win its CIF opener, appeared to tie the game in the 70th minute on a free kick but the goal was waived off because of an offsides call.
“We hung in there; we stayed in the game and I thought we were going to pull it off right there at the end but it just didn’t fall our way,” said Chargers head coach Hugh Hollis.
Barely two minutes after seeing the equalizer disappear, Cypress gained its 4-2 advantage on a corner kick that was knocked home by Jenna Dages.
“Our offense works really well together. We have a lot of speed and we try to exploit that on the weak side,” Woiemberghe said.
Cypress won despite resting Empire League MVP Kelly Kessloff for the entire first half and part of the second.
“I tried not to use her this game but I had to put her in to calm down the midfield,” Woiemberghe said.
Woiemberghe credited Madison Nelson with leading the defensive effort.
Dos Pueblos, which came in second place in the Channel League, completes it season with a record of 12-7-3. The Chargers will lose 11 seniors to graduation but return some key pieces like Pickett, Rocky Uyesaka, Anya Schmitz and Malia Morales.
One of those seniors, Ady Willett, scored DP’s goal in the first half. Willett closed out her Dos Pueblos career by scoring in her final three games.
“We had a good season and we’re really proud of the girls,” Hollis said.
