CLAREMONT — The bump up to Division 3 proved to be a challenge for the Webb girls soccer team.
The Gauls completed their first challenge in this year’s CIF Southern Section playoffs, but only barely.
Senior Abbey Cook scored in the 92nd minute to lift Webb to a 2-1 overtime victory over Brea Olinda on Wednesday afternoon.
The Webb Schools’ Abbey Cook, left, vies for the ball against Brea Olinda’s Sierra Criner, right, during the second half of a CIF southern section girls’ soccer division 3 round 1 championship match on Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2023, at The Webb Schools in Claremont, Calif. The Webb Schools won 2-1 in overtime. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Brea Olinda’s Payton Dunbar is surrounded by teammates after she scores a goal during the second half of a CIF southern section girls’ soccer division 3 round 1 championship match on Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2023, at The Webb Schools in Claremont, Calif. The Webb Schools won 2-1 in overtime. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
The Webb Schools’ Abbey Cook, right, celebrates with teammate Noe Chock, center, after Cook scores the winning goal during overtime of a CIF southern section girls’ soccer division 3 round 1 championship match on Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2023, at The Webb Schools in Claremont, Calif. The Webb Schools won 2-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Brea Olinda’s Lizzie Choi recovers the ball against The Webb Schools during the second half of a CIF southern section girls’ soccer division 3 round 1 championship match on Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2023, at The Webb Schools in Claremont, Calif. The Webb Schools won 2-1 in overtime. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
The Webb Schools’ head coach Malick Mbengue looks on during the second half of a CIF southern section girls’ soccer division 3 round 1 championship match against Brea Olinda on Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2023, at The Webb Schools in Claremont, Calif. The Webb Schools won 2-1 in overtime. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
The Webb Schools’ Abbey Cook, center, kicks the ball during the second half of a CIF southern section girls’ soccer division 3 round 1 championship match on Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2023, at The Webb Schools in Claremont, Calif. The Webb Schools won 2-1 in overtime. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Brea Olinda’s Sierra Criner dribbles the ball against The Webb Schools during the first half of a CIF southern section girls’ soccer division 3 round 1 championship match on Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2023, at The Webb Schools in Claremont, Calif. The Webb Schools won 2-1 in overtime. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Brea Olinda’s head coach Mike Knaus looks on during the first half of a CIF southern section girls’ soccer division 3 round 1 championship match against The Webb Schools on Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2023, at The Webb Schools in Claremont, Calif. The Webb Schools won 2-1 in overtime. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
The Webb Schools’ Noe Chock dribbles the ball during the second half of a CIF southern section girls’ soccer division 3 round 1 championship match on Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2023, at The Webb Schools in Claremont, Calif. The Webb Schools won 2-1 in overtime. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
The Webb Schools’ Ava Darby, left, vies for the ball against Brea Olinda’s Chloe Montera, right, during the first half of a CIF southern section girls’ soccer division 3 round 1 championship match on Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2023, at The Webb Schools in Claremont, Calif. The Webb Schools won 2-1 in overtime. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Brea Olinda’s Crystal DeWeese makes a save against The Webb Schools during the first half of a CIF southern section girls’ soccer division 3 round 1 championship match on Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2023, at The Webb Schools in Claremont, Calif. The Webb Schools won 2-1 in overtime. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Brea Olinda’s Maddie Gardner, right, vies for the ball against The Webb Schools’ Samantha Crawford during the first half of a CIF southern section girls’ soccer division 3 round 1 championship match on Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2023, at The Webb Schools in Claremont, Calif. The Webb Schools won 2-1 in overtime. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
The Webb Schools’ Jasmine Beseth, left, dribbles past Brea Olinda’s Payton Dunbar, right, during the first half of a CIF southern section girls’ soccer division 3 round 1 championship match on Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2023, at The Webb Schools in Claremont, Calif. The Webb Schools won 2-1 in overtime. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Brea Olinda’s Payton Dunbar moves the ball up the pitch during the first half of a CIF southern section girls’ soccer division 3 round 1 championship match on Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2023, at The Webb Schools in Claremont, Calif. The Webb Schools won 2-1 in overtime. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
The Webb Schools’ Jasmine Beseth celebrates with teammates after she scores a goal during the first half of a CIF southern section girls’ soccer division 3 round 1 championship match on Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2023, at The Webb Schools in Claremont, Calif. The Webb Schools won 2-1 in overtime. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
The Webb Schools’ Jasmine Beseth, left, heads the ball against Brea Olinda’s Hannah PeĴigrew, right, during the second half of a CIF southern section girls’ soccer division 3 round 1 championship match on Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2023, at The Webb Schools in Claremont, Calif. The Webb Schools won 2-1 in overtime. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Brea Olinda’s Payton Dunbar moves the ball up the pitch during the first half of a CIF southern section girls’ soccer division 3 round 1 championship match against The Webb Schools on Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2023, at The Webb Schools in Claremont, Calif. The Webb Schools won 2-1 in overtime. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
The Webb Schools’ Ava Darby, left, kick is deflected by Brea Olinda’s Genevieve Dauphin, right, during the second half of a CIF southern section girls’ soccer division 3 round 1 championship match on Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2023, at The Webb Schools in Claremont, Calif. The Webb Schools won 2-1 in overtime. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Brea Olinda’s Morgan Wood looks to pass against the The Webb Schools during the first half of a CIF southern section girls’ soccer division 3 round 1 championship match on Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2023, at The Webb Schools in Claremont, Calif. The Webb Schools won 2-1 in overtime. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Brea Olinda’s Lizzie Choi brings the ball up the pitch during the first half of a CIF southern section girls’ soccer division 3 round 1 championship match on Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2023, at The Webb Schools in Claremont, Calif. The Webb Schools won 2-1 in overtime. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
The Webb Schools’ Samantha Crawford kicks the ball past Brea Olinda’s Lizzie Choi during overtime of a CIF southern section girls’ soccer division 3 round 1 championship match on Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2023, at The Webb Schools in Claremont, Calif. The Webb Schools won 2-1 in overtime. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Brea Olinda’s Chloe Montera, right, battles The Webb Schools’ Reagan Ollivierre, left, for the ball during the overtime of a CIF southern section girls’ soccer division 3 round 1 championship match on Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2023, at The Webb Schools in Claremont, Calif. The Webb Schools won 2-1 in overtime. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
The Webb Schools’ Reece Ollivierre brings the ball up the pitch during the second half of a CIF southern section girls’ soccer division 3 round 1 championship match on Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2023, at The Webb Schools in Claremont, Calif. The Webb Schools won 2-1 in overtime. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Brea Olinda’s Genevieve Dauphin, right, deflects the ball during the second half of a CIF southern section girls’ soccer division 3 round 1 championship match on Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2023, at The Webb Schools in Claremont, Calif. The Webb Schools won 2-1 in overtime. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
The Webb Schools’ Ella Garcia, left, vies for the ball with Brea Olinda’s Chloe Montera, right during the first half of a CIF southern section girls’ soccer division 3 round 1 championship match on Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2023, at The Webb Schools in Claremont, Calif. The Webb Schools won 2-1 in overtime. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
The Webb Schools’ Ava Darby, right, kicks the ball during the second half of a CIF southern section girls’ soccer division 3 round 1 championship match on Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2023, at The Webb Schools in Claremont, Calif. The Webb Schools won 2-1 in overtime. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
The Webb Schools’ Abbey Cook, right, battles against Brea Olinda’s Rhyan Thomas, left, during the second half of a CIF southern section girls’ soccer division 3 round 1 championship match on Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2023, at The Webb Schools in Claremont, Calif. The Webb Schools won 2-1 in overtime. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
The Webb Schools’ Ella Garcia dribbles the ball against Brea Olinda during the second half of a CIF southern section girls’ soccer division 3 round 1 championship match on Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2023, at The Webb Schools in Claremont, Calif. The Webb Schools won 2-1 in overtime. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
The Webb Schools’ Sienna Gomez makes a save against Brea Olinda during the first half of a CIF southern section girls’ soccer division 3 round 1 championship match on Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2023, at The Webb Schools in Claremont, Calif. The Webb Schools won 2-1 in overtime. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
The Webb Schools’ Abbey Cook moves the ball up the pitch during the second half of a CIF southern section girls’ soccer division 3 round 1 championship match on Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2023, at The Webb Schools in Claremont, Calif. The Webb Schools won 2-1 in overtime. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
The Webb Schools’ head coach Malick Mbengue speaks to his players at the end of a CIF southern section girls’ soccer division 3 round 1 championship match against the Brea Olinda on Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2023, at The Webb Schools in Claremont, Calif. The Webb Schools won 2-1 in overtime. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Webb (15-1-2) went undefeated in winning the CIF-SS Division 6 and CIF State Division V regional championships last year and didn’t play a playoff game until either final that was decided by fewer than three goals. Webb will play Marina in the second round Friday.
“We knew it was going to be tough when we got into the playoffs,” Webb coach Malick Mbengue said. “At the end of the day, it’s playoffs. You have to show up to win.”
It was a triumphant finish for Cook, who was frustrated for much of the game. She assisted on the game’s first goal, but didn’t score until sudden-death overtime. It was her 40th of the season and 140th of her career, which according to the CIF-SS record book ties her for eighth all-time.
“It was definitely a relief,” Cook said. “Especially after I had scored earlier in the overtime when I didn’t believe it was a foul. So I had to do it twice.”
Cook scored on a header off a corner kick in the 88th minute, but a foul was called, nullifying the goal.
For the game-winner, Noe Chock had a nice pass to Cook down the left side. As usual in the game, Cook had two defenders on her. This time she dribbled past the defenders and slid a shot past goalie Genevieve Dauphin with her left foot. It hit off the inside of the far post and into the goal.
“I kind of questioned it at first,” Cook said. “I didn’t think it was going to go in. Then it went in and it registered that it was golden goal because I thought we were going to have to defend for five minutes. I wasn’t sure if it was going to hit the post and bounce out or bounce in.”
Webb got off to a great start, when Cook crossed to Jasmine Beseth just over two minutes into the game gave the Gauls a 1-0 lead.
Webb searched for a second goal in regulation, but couldn’t get one. Beseth had a half-volley that was saved by Dauphin in the 47th minute. Cook hit one off the post in the 57th minute.
Brea Olinda (8-10-4), which defeated Esperanza 1-0 in the regular season finale last week to qualify for the playoffs, got the equalizer in the 79th minute when Payton Dunbar rocketed a shot from straight on into the back of the net.
“Our girls just believe,” Wildcats coach Mike Knaus said. “They’re going to continue to battle. I’m super proud of them. We could’ve been done after the first goal and they weren’t.”
Knaus was pleased with the defense his team played on Cook, was glad the winning goal came on an outstanding play by Cook rather than a misplay by his defense.
“It was nice that she (Cook) made a great play and it wasn’t us making a bad play,” he said. “She made a great play to win the game.”
Orange County girls athlete of the week: Avarie Gonzalez, Los Alamitos
Knaus is optimistic for the future as Brea Olinda loses only four seniors.
For Mbengue, he believes his team needs to improve as the playoffs advance.
“The frustration for me is that we were playing a little out of character,” Mbengue said. “It’s probably one of the worst games we’ve played even though we won it. Just because we could not find our rhythm.”
