In one of the more highly anticipated games of the girls’ CCS soccer playoffs, fifth-seeded Mountain View upset fourth-seeded Carlmont in a tightly battled match on a windy day at Gunn High School Saturday afternoon in a Division I quarterfinal. In a tight game that was dominated by strong defensive play by both teams, it was Mountain View’s creative running plays and through balls that spelled doom for Carlmont’s team.
Mountain View created more chances from the outset. Within the first five minutes, the Spartans already had two corners and three shots that were handled by Carlmont sophomore goalkeeper Claire Noemer.
“We play a 4-3-3 formation and they play a 5-3-2, so that left a free forward up top so we wanted to get the ball to our forwards as often as possible to get a 1v1 situation,” Mountain View coach Ivan Bandov said. “I think that we executed that really well.”
Indeed, Mountain View took advantage of its extra forward on both of its goals. Sophomore Morgan Matthews slipped behind the Carlmont defense on a through ball from Erica Higa and didn’t waste anytime settling the ball as she ripped a half volley over the head of Noemer to take a 1-0 lead in the 22nd minute.
“Our center midfielder just passed a great ball over the defender, I took a touch and scored,” Matthews said. It was her 11th goal of the season.
Mountain View had several chances to increase its lead, but tremendous saves from Noemer kept Carlmont in the game.
“You know, I wish we could have been up 2-0 or 3-0 at the end of the first half, but I’ll take it,” Bandov said.
Ysabel Baluyot who scored the second goal of the game, made a flick around Carlmont’s Emily Cox and was on a clear breakaway, but Noemer came charging from the goal line and plucked the ball from her feet, preventing a sure goal.
Even though she was denied several chances throughout the game, luck finally graced itself on the toe of Baluyot as she poked it from the top of the 18 into the top left corner of Carlmont’s goal to seal the game for the Spartans, 2-0.
“To be honest, I just kicked it, and I was lucky that it went in,” Baluyot said. “I wasn’t really trying to do that, but I’ll take it."
Mountain View next faces Santa Teresa, which will once again be without star player Tegan McGrady, who was suspended for participating in a non-sanctioned national team event. However, the top-seeded Saints still figure to pose the biggest challenge to date for the Spartans. The teams meet Wednesday night (7 pm) at Valley Christian.
