CIFSDS Girls Soccer: Monarchs take title
- Updated: March 30, 2023
2022-23 EAST COUNTY PREP GIRLS SOCCER
CIF-San Diego Section Championships
Division III – Championship
Monte Vista 3, San Diego HS 2
ECS staff report
BONITA – The Monte Vista Monarchs girls soccer team captured the school’s first-ever CIF-San Diego Section championship in the sport, taking a see-saw affair from San Diego High, 3-2, in Thursday’s (Feb. 24) finale held at Bonita Vista High.
Monte Vista freshman Marely Velazquez snapped a 2-2 deadlock with an unassisted goal in the 60th minue, then the defense shut down the Cavers (13-8-1) the rest of the way
San Diego held a 1-0 halftime advantage, but the Monarchs opened the second half smoking, registering two goals in a 60-second span to take the lead.
In the 41st minute, Monte Vista scoring leader Yulitza Castorena, a senior, recorded her 22nd goal of the season for the equalizer. Then a minute later, the 6th-seeded Monarchs received the go-ahead goal from junior Reese Pittman. Both goals were unassisted.
San Diego, the 8th seed, would rally to tie, but Velazquez released and took a forwarding pass along the wing and punched the ball past the Cavers goalie.
With the triumph, Monte Vista, the Grossmont Valley League champions over Valhalla, moved its record to 13-5-3. A year ago, the Monarchs were the runner-up in the CIF final.
