Amidst decorated posters and pre-game tribute speeches, Sequoia dominated in its girls soccer senior day match-up against visiting Half Moon Bay, winning 4-0, to remain undefeated in the PAL-Ocean division.
“These girls thrive on their relationships with one another," Sequoia coach Melissa Schmidt said. “I knew that having this stuff for the seniors [before the game] was going to bring them up even more for the game.”
The Cherokees got right to work with a goal from sophomore Sarah Huber in the fourth minute. After a 16th-minute shot from senior Emma Martino found net, the first half continued and turned into the second as a game concentrated on the Half Moon Bay half of the field, never letting up on the Cougars’ defense.
Huber let her second goal fly into the net from deep to increase the Cherokee lead to three in the 53rd minute.
“I knew that I got a really good hit on it and it was really long so I just waited,” Huber said. “But it was a goal and a goal is a goal.”
Schmidt couldn’t have been happier with Huber’s performance.
“Sarah is unbelievable,” Schmidt said. “She is so calm under pressure and just executes the most beautiful shots time after time without even blinking.”
Attempts to get on the Sequoia side of the field continued as time dwindled; however, hustle from Sequoia’s Kate Elliot and Skye Picker kept the Cougars scoreless.
As the clock ran out with the seniors playing on the field, together, the Cherokees were able to achieve their victory just as they had aimed to.
“We just wanted to come out with a win after being undefeated,” Huber said. “It was really important for us to get our seniors a win.”
