WC Girls Triumph Twice in Soccer Playoffs

It was triumph Wednesday night for two girls soccer teams from Walnut Creek in playoff games.

Northgate (11-4-8) beat Piedmont to advance to the next round of the NCS
playoffs, and Las Lomas built momentum with a 4-0 win over John F. Kennedy, Fremont.
 
In high school sports, momentum is everything. It can carry bring a team’s season to a halt or lift the team up to the pinnacle in a title game. The Las Lomas High girls soccer team has plenty of momentum. With the 4-0 win, the Knights picked up their 10th win of the season and their fourth consecutive victory.

Ashley Love and Sophia Jorgensen both took early shots for the Knights, but were unsuccessful. Las Lomas’ luck broke through when it received a goal from junior Linnea Wikander in the 26th minute. Shortly after the goal, Las Lomas picked up tempo heading into the half. They were relentless in attacking the JFK defense and finished the half with a 2-0 lead.

Coming out of halftime, sophomore Lauren Bradley picked up a goal within the first 30 seconds on a breakaway down the right side. Bradley scored again in the 51st minute.

In the 55th minute, Wikander had an opportunity to pick up her second goal of the night when Samantha Stephens, the Kennedy goalkeeper, jumped out of the goal and left it open for a Wikander shot. However, the shot missed. It showed that Las Lomas continued to get chances at the goal.

Senior captain Ashley Love was fouled in the box and Las Lomas received a penalty kick. Senior Sophia Jorgensen took the kick converted it into a goal.

The red-hot Las Lomas team will head to Campolindo for a noon game on Saturday to face the Cougars. The two teams have played twice this season. They tied 2-2 in the first game and then Las Lomas won 3-0 in their second meeting.

“We’ve gained a lot of confidence from our recent wins,” said Wikander. “Winning is a great feeling, and it makes us hungry for more, we want that feeling of success again, and we won’t settle for anything less.”

Northgate 1, Piedmont 0.

Northgate (11-4-8) beat Piedmont to advance to the next round of the NCS playoffs. They’ll travel to Dublin on Saturday for a 7 p.m. kickoff.