SAN CLEMENTE >> San Clemente goalkeeper Emily Sanchez had a standout performance to lead the Tritons to a win over Mater Dei in the second round of the CIF-SS Division 1 girls soccer playoffs Wednesday at San Clemente High.
The two teams were tied at two goals apiece at the end of regulation and two 10-minute overtime periods. San Clemente beat Mater Dei 5-3 on penalty kicks after a diving save by Sanchez.
San Clemente (10-3-5) will travel to Temecula Valley for the quarterfinals on Saturday.
The senior goalkeeper had eight saves in the game. On the deciding save during penalty kicks, she had to change direction to make the diving stop.
San Clemente wins 5-3 on PKs against Mater Dei. Sophia Yeskulsky with the clinching goal. San Clemente will play at Temecula Valley in the quarterfinals Saturday. @ocvarsityguy @ocvarsity @SouthOCsports @SCHSTritons @latsondheimer pic.twitter.com/U6m36i0FVn
— Michael Huntley (@mikehuntley63) February 17, 2022
“That save was SpiderMan-esque,” San Clemente coach Stacey Finnerty said. “I have confidence in her and I felt that if we made ours that she was going to get one and she did. It was not an easy one either.”
The game started with a fast pace and got very physical. Both teams had multiple shots on goal in the first eight minutes of the game. Mater Dei (15-5-5) nearly scored on a corner kick but Addie Brislen was able to deflect the ball to midfield.
The Monarchs scored in the 11th minute and that lead would hold for nearly 40 minutes of game time. Early in the second half, San Clemente’s Abby Succi scored off a corner kick to tie the game at one.
A wild sequence took place in the 75th minute. Faith Gillett scored for the Tritons to give them a 2-1 lead. Less than a minute later, Skylar Cano scored a controversial tying goal for the Monarchs in which much of the crowd thought a San Clemente defender was fouled in the box.
“We served one in deep and were trying to get through because we felt we had more speed than they did. Faith is just a workhorse and followed that in,” Finnerty said. “We were where we were supposed to be but we were fouled in the box. It was illegal and they didn’t call it.”
The game was very physical, particularly in the second half, and multiple Mater Dei players drew yellow cards.
“The physicality of their team was misguided in a way that could have injured a lot of our players,” Finnerty said. “I think cards could have (been) pulled a lot earlier on both sides of the pitch.”
Mater Dei had multiple chances to score in the second overtime period. Analise Odenthal had an open look that sailed over the net in the fifth minute. The Monarchs had a corner kick with two minutes remaining and got two shots on goal before being whistled for being offsides. The first shot was saved by Sanchez and the other went off the top left post.
Succi, Malia McMahon, Jordan Brail, Samantha Lee each converted their penalty kicks for the Tritons and freshman Sophia Yeskulsky converted the last one to send the Tritons to the quarterfinals.
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Wednesday marked the first time the Tritons had beaten Mater Dei since 2008.
“I am very happy because I know what a quality group of players they (Mater Dei) have and are coached by one of the best coaches in the area,” Finnerty said. “I think we fought really hard and never gave up. I am so ecstatic that our game came out when we needed it to and we were successful. Everything they gave us we gave right back at them and more.”