The San Diego Section girls soccer playoffs featured numerous upsets throughout the six divisional brackets.
But the third-seeded Mater Dei Catholic Crusaders were not about to be upset in last Saturday’s Division IV championship game in the team’s first trip to the CIF finals.
Facing fifth-seeded Ramona, which had just eliminated top-seeded Castle Park, 2-1, in the preceding semifinals, the Crusaders appeared to be breezing along with a 3-0 lead early in the second half of last weekend’s division championship game at La Jolla High School.
But the Bulldogs responded with two unanswered goals of their own to trim the Mater Dei Catholic lead to 3-2. After the Crusaders increased their lead to 4-2, Ramona responded with two more unanswered goals to tie the game 4-4 to force overtime.
But the Crusaders regained the momentum at the right time, scoring just four minutes into the 15-minute golden goal period to deliver the school its first CIF girls soccer championship.
Mater Dei Catholic coach Oscar Flores understandably termed the history-making 5-4 win a “big deal” for the team — and the school.
“The girls worked hard; they wanted it,” Flores said. “I tried to keep their heads away from thinking too much about it (the pressure of winning). But now they’re happy.”
Quite so.
Rachel Penick scored the game-winner in overtime for the Crusaders (16-5-2). It was her second goal of the match.
Veronica Molina and Jordan Norman also scored goals in the game for Mater Dei Catholic. Molina had two goals in the game. Her second goal put the Crusaders ahead 4-2.
Penick received a cross from the sideline, maneuvered past the last Ramona defender for a breakaway, then placed her game-winning shot under the sliding Bulldog goalkeeper.
Flores said his team, despite losing the luxury of a three-goal lead, was still able to recapture its magic on the field.
“I told the girls to play with their minds focused — to get back to where they had been earlier in the game,” Flores said. “The break between regulation and overtime really helped us. We were able to get back to what had been working for us. It didn’t take long until we got the winning goal.”
Ramona (13-14-4) received goals from Gracie Knowd and Kyla Christofferson and a pair of goals from sophomore Sidney Din in the final 13 minutes to force overtime.
The first Bulldog goal came on a penalty kick.
San Diego Section Girls Soccer champions
Open Division: Eastlake
Division I: Scripps Ranch
Division II: Our Lady of Peace
Division III: Mt. Carmel
Division IV: Mater Dei Catholic
Division V: High Tech North County
San Diego Section Boys Soccer champions
Open Division: San Marcos
Division I: Point Loma
Division II: Del Norte
Division III: University City
Division IV: Sage Creek
Division V: West Shores
