Story by Nicolette Sarmiento
Editor-in-Chief
LA PUENTE–Led by senior April Juarez, the Bishop Amat girls’ varsity soccer team defeated the Chino Hills Huskies, 4-1, in an intense match at Kiefer Stadium on Tuesday to advance to the CIF finals.
Even before the game started, both Amat and Chino Hills crowds were antsy and loud. As the game progressed, the stands got louder as there were some questionable calls for both ends.
Throughout the playoffs, the Lady Lancers have started off with the disadvantage, with their opponents scoring first. They again allowed the Huskies to score and take the lead early in the 20th minute.
However, senior April Juarez responded with a goal for Amat to tie it up, 1-1, just a minute later. From there, the Lady Lancers took control.
Juarez again carried the ball up the field and put the ball in off a backwards, off-balance shot, giving Amat their first lead of the game, 2-1.
Right before the half, junior Nayeli Requejo put Amat up, 3-1, off a penalty kick after Juarez was tripped up by a Chino Hills player in the goal box.
In the second half, the Huskies pushed to try to score. Players exchanged words with each other while the referee issued yellow cards throughout the game.
Yet the Lancers pulled through, maintaining possession throughout the rest of the game. Requejo scored again off a corner kick in the 50th minute to extend the lead, 4-1.
Though Chino Hills had several attempts on goal, senior goalkeeper Nicole Ragano made several saves to keep the Huskies from scoring again.
With this win, the Lady Lancers head to the CIF finals for the second time in a row and are set to face the Claremont Wolfpack this weekend.
The Wolfpack is ranked third in the country and has not allowed any goals in the playoffs and defeated the St. Lucy’s Regents, 1-0, on Tuesday. Claremont will be the Lancers’ most challenging opponent yet.
