LODI, CA -- The Boca Jrs 96 U12 girls repeated as champions in Lodi this past weekend, 9-27/28. The girls came out and played their brand of soccer against California Odyssey securing a 2-1 win. That afternoon they played the Tulock Tornadoes and with an impressive display of offense won 5-0. Sunday morning was perhaps the girls best soccer as they had multiple scorers and easily controlled Lamorinda Soccer Club with a 7-0 win.
The ball was moving around all weekend and the team had multiple scorers as Taylor Duthler, Michelle Skupnjak, Anna Gregg, Jessica Raybe, Lizzie Merrill, Ashari Hines, and Holly Isaacs all had goals. Janae Gonzalez played some gritty soccer, controlling the middle, while Thalia Wathen-Mayorga served up excellent crosses. The defense of Rachel Schaefer, Ivy Reich, Holly Isaacs, Elizabeth Wagstaff, and Savannah Droke contolled all of the games, as usual, and made sure BOCA was in a position to win throughout. The final would be a tough match against a very good Santa Rosa United Blizzard team that has played Boca tough in the past. Santa Rosa would score on a first half penalty kick and would hold the lead until the final minute of regulation when Holy Isaacs would send the ball to Lizzie Merrill for the tying score 1-1 at the end of regulation. The game would go into two periods of overtime and be decided by penalty kicks. Alexia De La Paz, Taylor Duthler, Jessica Raybe, Anna Gregg, and Ashari Hines kept the pressure on Santa Rosa. Aubrey Hall had a huge save on the fourth kick and with the pressure mounting the last Santa Rosa kicker sent the ball high and Boca would defend their championship of a year ago.
The girls played hard throughout and had to reach down deep for this win. It was a great weekend of soccer and the girls learned some valuable lessons that will help in their future development as soccer players. Great job this weekend girls !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
