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Sonoma’s soccer boys, girls slip in NCS

Lady Dragon netters in SCL singles, doubles

With a light, steady rain, that later turned heavy, and intermittent wind continuing throughout Wednesday, the Sonoma Valley High School varsity soccer boys and girls opened their postseasons on the road playing tough Redwood and Petaluma squads, respectively, in the North Coast Section Division-1 playoffs.

Unfortunately, despite their strong efforts, both Sonoma teams came up short and saw their seasons come to an end.

The afternoon NCS Division-1 match in Larskpur had the 14th-seeded Dragon boys taking an early 1-0 lead on a long-goal by senior Daniel Montes, and they kept their advantage until the final two minutes of regulation play, when third-seeded Redwood managed to score the tying goal.

In the two golden-goal overtime periods – with the first goal scored ending the match – neither team could break through for the win, so the NCS battle was decided by a penalty kick shootout and the Dragons ended up dropping a 4-3 heartbreaker.

Scoring Sonoma’s three overtime penalty kicks were Montes and seniors Stephan Flynn-García and Fidel García.

Rounding out the Sonoma varsity boys’ team – directed by longtime head coach Pedro Merino and assistant coach Mike Linder – were seniors Daniel Dwyer, Connor Grieggs-Demmin, Griffin Hill, Martín Hurtado, Pedro Nápoles, Newang Sherpa, Tashi Sherpa and Manuel Young; juniors Andy Chávez, Alejandro Echeverría, Anthony Echeverría, Anthony García, Miguel Guillén, Brian Ruiz and Zack Thompson; and sophomores Sam Bridges-Sonheim and Alexis Zamudio.

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In the NCS Division-1 girls match played in a downpour Wednesday evening under the Durst Field lights, the visiting 11th-seeded Lady Dragons faced longtime Sonoma County League rival Petaluma for the third time this season and it turned into another tight clash.

But, with the weather conditions playing havoc with the tempo of the match, the Sonoma girls couldn’t get their offense on track, and they dropped a 3-1 NCS decision to the Trojans.

Scoring the lone goal for the Lady Dragons was sophomore Monica Ramirez.

Rounding out the Sonoma varsity girls’ soccer team – directed by head coach Julio Leon and assistant coach Colleen Hamilton – were seniors Caroline Knef, Naomi Blinman, Halli Dobson, Riley Ellis-Reis, Selena Gutierrez and Lindsey Jasperse; juniors Ellen Angeloni, Brenna Hamilton, Maria Hawing, Kirsten Hodgson, Kathryn Marioni and Megan Neely; sophomores Alejandra Alvarez, Maddie Dougherty, Raegan Hedley, Shelley Marmaduke, Christen Silkey and Rian Verdu; and freshmen Brigette Vanoni and Mia Vanoni.

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Six Sonoma tennis girls were, pending rain, scheduled to begin play in the postseason Sonoma County League singles and doubles tournaments yesterday at the Santa Rosa Junior College courts – results not available at presstime – with both tourneys slated to conclude today.

The two Lady Dragons competing in SCL singles are senior Anna Robles and sophomore Cecilia Montano, who were Sonoma’s No. 1 and No. 2 singles players, respectively, throughout the season.

Playing SCL doubles for the Lady Dragon netters are the pairings of juniors Michelle Stovall and exchange student Stephanie Brett, and junior Ava Gonzales and sophomore Annie Morgan.