Los Alamitos’ first round CIF-SS playoff match started off quite positive in the beginning half of the game, but in the end Mater Dei had them chasing.
The opening goal of the match came in the 32nd minute but Mater Dei picked itself up minutes later with an equalizer and would eventually win the first-round game, 3-1, on Thursday.
Los Al’s Krystal De Ramos found the back of the net after some sloppy play by Mater Dei’s backline left her one-on-one with the goalkeeper.
Ramos slotted her shot in the bottom left corner of the goal and the Griffins were in full delight.
“I thought we started off the game strong,” said Los Al Head Coach Hayley Bolt. “The girls knew it was a huge game going into it and Mater Dei just ended the game strong.”
Everything looked like it was going their way in the first half. The Griffins controlled the ball and most of the play was in Mater Dei’s side of the field.
However, a big clearance by the Monarchs keeper exposed an opening in the Griffins’ defense, which Mater Dei’s Olivia Ware took full advantage of, as she hit a high shot that evened the game at 1-1.
The slight mishap in the backline gave Mater Dei an inch of breathing space but the Monarchs would take a foot and steal the victory. Los Al squandered several scoring opportunities in the first half, allowing Mater Dei to eventually gain control.
The goal that gave the Monarchs the lead came from a free kick awarded at about the mid-field line. A high ball deep into the box wasn’t cleared and Los Alamitos players didn’t track back fast enough, leaving the Griffins’ keeper alone against two Mater Dei strikers.
Los Al continued to attack, but by the second half Mater Dei’s defense had sharpened things up and made it difficult to get a clear shot on goal.
Mater Dei was able to get an insurance goal on a fluke play that started with a Monarch break on the right side. The Griffins backline did well to backtrack and cover their spaces, but the Monarch’s shot on goal deflected off a defender and found the back of the net.
It was a tough loss for the Griffins and a tough loss for Bolt, who’s only in her first season at helm.
“After the game, I let the girls know that Mater Dei ended the game stronger, but that they should be proud of how far they’ve come,” said Bolt. “Our girls played very well and it’s my first season with the team so I’m still figuring things out.”
