CIF Round 1: A good start for varsity girls soccer

Avery Rosas, Editor-in-Chief

February 11, 2024

Moments after Sofia Torres (12, center) scored a goal to increase the lead to 4-2. Katie Trinh (11, left) and unidentified (right) celebrate with Torres in what ended up being a triumphant win in Round 1 of CIF play.

In the waning afternoon on Thursday, February 8, the first round of California Interscholastic Foundation (CIF) for varsity girls soccer officially went underway against Arrowhead Christian High School. Girls soccer ended their regular season with a 12-6-2 record, more than enough to secure a CIF spot in their division.

The start of the game set an early tone for the game, both in scoring chances gained… and scoring chances lost. Arrowhead Christian scored first, flying past Ayala defenders for an early 1-0 lead. However, it took only minutes before Ayala struck back, an assist from Rosie Ashak (12) to Haylee Dean (10) to even the score at 1-1, a score that wouldn’t hold very long before the lead was once again lost.

With a 2-1 deficit going into the latter stages of the first half, a fortunately-unfortunate series of events unfolded to give Bella Contreras (12) a free kick from the penalty arc; the shot was blocked yet still rendered futile as Contreras charged the ball into the net to tie the game back at 2-2. With a brand new game at hand, the girls stepped off the field to rest once the half had come to an end.

The seconds leading up to Bella Contreras’ (12) successful free kick that tied the game at 2-2. Ayala never trailed in the game after this play. (Avery Rosas)

While Ayala had already dominated the game in terms of possession up until the first 10 minutes of the second half, they were about to run circles around Arrowhead Christian like a child who refuses to stop playing with their food. A corner kick assist allowed Viviana Naranjo (12) to sink a header into the net for a 3-2 lead, their first time leading in this game. The girls once again erupted, and with good reason–all the momentum was heading towards the Ayala sidelines.

Throughout the game, it felt like the head referee had decided who he wanted to win before the game started; the home sidelines made their distaste for this trend very clear. However, in the few times they had something go their way, they made sure to take advantage of it. Such an instance became true when Ashak charged the ball, aggressive as ever, for another assist, this time to Sofia Torres (12). Only 20 or so feet from the goal, she found her way past the keeper to score an easy goal and an easy 4-2 lead going into the final stages of the game.

The moment proceeding Naranjo’s successful header, a pivotal goal in what ended up being a tight game. (Avery Rosas)

Arrowhead Christian scored an admittedly-impressive surprise shot to cut the lead back to 4-3, so impressive that it had the boys soccer team cheering for them from the home side bleachers. Unsurprisingly, however, our girls wouldn’t let this trifling act of treason and betrayal stay unchallenged for very long. Back and forth possessions from the two teams led to Contreras racing to the corner of the away side, only to complete a pass to Ashak who finally got to sink one in herself to increase the lead back to two, a lead of 5-3.

Another goal was scored for Arrowhead, a valiant effort but not a triumphant one as Ayala closed them out on their way to a 5-4 final score. They had their (hopefully) first victim of what seems to be the makings of an even longer run through CIF this season.

Of course, Arrowhead Christian will now have to head home with their heads hung, still with the consolation that they were able to make it as far as they did. Ayala played Rosary Academy at Fullerton College today at 6 PM, awaiting a final score, which will certainly be recorded here on the Bulldog Times. Whether it be a win or a loss, it seems we can count our girls soccer to put in an undeniably passionate effort every year.

About the Contributor

Avery Rosas, Editor-in-Chief, Sports Editor

Avery Rosas (12) is the Editor-in-Chief and Sports Editor for the Bulldog Times. In his third and final year on staff, he hopes to grow the publication’s reach by diving deeper into the stories that make our school, and our students, unique. Avery is very culturally centered from his proud Mexican heritage and, as a result, is heavily involved in the World Language programs at the school. He hopes to influence others to become proud of their cultures while also respecting those of others. His immersion in his Mexican culture is seen in the altars he constructs for Dia de Los Muertos and heard in his never-ending Latino music playlists, his daily soundtrack consisting of anything from Natalia Lafourcade, Pedro Infante and Los Panchos to Romeo Santos, Caifanes and Los Angeles Azules. However, his biggest passion, seen in his writing and known by those around him, is baseball; more specifically, his darling Los Angeles Dodgers. Baseball is the center of Avery's media consumption and his immersion in the sport has allowed him to meet people across the country who deepen his understanding of the game and generally just enrich his life. His proficiency in baseball and sports writing as a whole has allowed him to enjoy some of the proudest moments of his life, the biggest of which was ranking Excellent in Sports Writing during a trip to the JEA/NSPA competition and convention held in San Francisco in April 2023. This year, he's hoping to further improve his writing skills and reach Superior for his final high school competition. Despite this being his last year as an editor for the Bulldog Times, he hopes to impart his passion for the program onto his underclassmen staff members and show them the beauty of what the Bulldog Times can do for writers and collaborators during their high school years; he also took the liberty of drastically surpassing the word count for his staff bio because it's his last year. Every moment, every article, every quote, and every word given to the Bulldog Times by Avery has been the legacy he hopes to leave to future student journalists and the higher standards he hopes to bring for the publication. And of course, he couldn't have done any of it without his mentor, advisor and friend, Ms. Eileen Tse, whom he will miss very much when he eventually leaves the Bulldog Times.