Molina’s goal in waning minutes lifts Helix over El Cap
- Updated: February 27, 2016
Braves win in PKs AGAIN and are going to the CIF Finals!!! @ECVHS #newera pic.twitter.com/agixH1QEYc
— Jason Babineau (@ECV_Babineau) February 27, 2016
By Damon Santore
EastCountySports.com
On Friday, (Feb. 26) the San Diego CIF playoff in girls soccer continued throughout San Diego. A win on Friday and all the hard work that these student-athletes have put in to win a champion is one step closer to becoming a reality.
El Capitan celebrates a goal in the opening minutes against Helix on Friday.
The Helix Highlanders and El Capitan Vaqueros went to battle in an matchup between two east county rivals.
Adding the playoff element only added hype to the intensity and rivalry.
El Cap came in this game with a blazing offense, with 77 goals scored, while Helix came in only allowing 12 goals all season. Something would have to give.
El Cap was a scoring machine in the second half this season, but ultimately defense won for Helix.
Helix’s Devin Molina celebrates the go-ahead goal late in the game.
Jeff Kepper and his team were able to hold onto a 4-2 win and will look to add onto their momentum on Tuesday, March 1st against Olympian High School.
Samantha McKenna scored in the opening minutes for a 1-0 Vaqueros’ lead.
Devin Molina would score the go-ahead goal with just two minutes left in the game when she took a pass from Dominque Banks and floated a shot over the goalkeepers’ outstretched leap into the air, which landed in the goal.
Goals – H: Root, Gonzalez, Molina, Pineda. EC: McKenna (2).
Valhalla and Granite Hills jockey for position on the ball Friday night.
Valhalla and Granite Hills also squared off in an east county showdown.
The two rival Soccer teams played a tightly contested game all the way though. With no team ever leading by more than a goal, victory could be obtained by either side.
Granite Hills came in as the No. 2-seed, but Valhalla’s defense proved too much. Valhalla won 1-0 on the strength of their defense.
The seventh-seeded Norsemen got a goal by Mariana Van Antwerp in the 71st minute.
Granite Hills will look to improve on their winning record (14-7-3) next season. Valhalla will play the third-seeded Patrick Henry Patriots on Tuesday March 1st at 5 pm.
El Cajon Valley players celebrate following their win over Calexico on Friday night in penalty kicks.
El Cajon Valley High School showed off their dominate defense once again in a match up against the Calexico Bulldogs.
After a shoot out victory last week over Sweetwater, the Braves found themselves in a heated defensive battle that would come down to penalty kicks for the second game in a row.
El Cajon Valley was able to build off its last shootout win, pulling out this win in penalty kicks 3-1.
El Cajon Valley has rode its defense all year to get to this point and will look to continue to keep the ball out of the back of the net.
El Cajon Valley’s next game will be the division championship against the Orange Glen Patriots (winners 3-1 over Imperial on Friday) on March 4 @ 7:30 pm at Olympian High School.
Elsewhere, West Hills continued its dominant run towards a championship. West Hills put its undefeated record on the line against Solana Beach’s Santé Fe Christian. West Hills cruised to a 3-0 victory and will look to grow their nation ranking of 92 (42 in CA) in their next game against University City on March 1st at 5pm.
West Hills has only allowed a staggering 9 goals this season behind stellar team play and will continue to be a powerhouse moving forward.
Mountain Empire took a tough loss at the feet of Sage Creek. After falling behind 2-0 in the first half Mountain Empire looked to make a comeback at the start of the second half but Sage Creeks offence proved too much for the lady Red Hawks.
