Facing tough nonleague opponents in their home openers, the Sonoma Valley High School boys and girls’ varsity soccer teams fell short of the win column at the high school field.
On Tuesday, the co-defending Sonoma County League champion Dragon soccer boys battled evenly matched Sir Francis Drake through a scoreless first half, which saw both offenses finally find the net in the second half.
Unfortunately, Sonoma could manage only one goal scored off a converted direct free kick by sophomore Diego Larios, while the visiting Pirates tallied a pair of goals and left town with a 2-1 win.
The Dragon boys travel to Santa Rosa today to play Montgomery, before returning home to host San Marin at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 9, at the high school field.
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As for the soccer Lady Dragons, who were coming off a good showing at last weekend’s annual Eye of the Tiger Tournament in Arcata, they were handed a one-sided 5-0 loss by nationally ranked power Maria Carrillo on Wednesday.
In the Arcata hosted Eye of the Tiger Tourney, the Sonoma girls
opened last Friday with a solid 1-0 victory over Cardinal Newman as senior goalie Christen Silkey preserved the shutout with some spectacular saves, and sophomore Alanna Johnston scored the game’s lone goal off a penalty kick.
Then in a Saturday morning rematch with Santa Rosa, which they lost to in their season opener, the Lady Dragons battled to a scoreless tie, before returning to the field shortly after to play Fortuna and pull out a 1-0 win off a late goal by sophomore Lorne Baskin.
Playing their third match of the day, which was for the consolation championship, a tired Sonoma squad dropped a 4-0 decision to Windsor.
Rounding out the Sonoma varsity girls roster – directed by first-year head coach Mike Verdu and assistant coaches Cindy Studdert and Rich Reed – are seniors Silkey, Alejandra Alvarez, Maddie Dougherty, Raegen Hedley, Shelley Marmaduke, Emily Miller, Monica Ramirez, Gabby Reed and Rian Verdu; juniors Bella Bollman, Lilyanna Caranza, Annie Greenslade, Brianda Prudente, Gridget Vanoni and Mia Vanoni; sophomores Basken, Johnston, Lena Mallett, Hayden Pearce, Hanna Maillard and Katie Stovall; and freshman Amy Stanfield.
The Lady Dragons host nonleague Casa Grande at 4 p.m. Monday, Sept. 8, at the high school field.
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Sonoma’s girl golfers will host SCL foe El Molino in their first home match on the Sonoma Golf Club course at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 9.
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Sonoma’s tennis girls open their SCL season on Tuesday, Sept. 9, against El Molino in Forestville, before hosting Piner in their first SCL home match at 3:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 11, at the high school courts.
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The Dragons boys and girls water polo teams start their season facing Cardinal Newman at the Finley Aquatic Complex in Santa Rosa on Tuesday, Sept. 9, with their first home matches slated for Thursday, Oct. 2, when they host San Marin at the Sonoma Aquatic Center’s pool.
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