Stallions too much for Coyotes
Wendy Alexander/The Madera Tribune
Madera South midfielder Sabrina Ibrahim (7) battles Madera defender Anyssa Garcia during Wednesday’s rivalry match.
The Madera Stallions girls soccer team outscored hometown rivals Madera Coyotes 3-2 in an exciting County/Metro Athletic Conference match.
“The game went very well, we wanted to play a certain way and we did,” Madera South head coach Ramon Delgadillo said. “We had a different strategy than last time we played. It paid off. We made a few mistakes in the back and they capitalized. For the most part we played really really well."
After two goals from Sabrina Ibrahim, the Stallions closed out their hometown rivals in a game that saw physical play throughout.
The Coyotes got off to a strong start after Mia Alvarez won a free kick 35 yards out. Alvarez fired on target but high over the goalkeeper.
The Stallions wouldn’t stay off the scoreboard for long after Ibrahim caught the defense napping. Ibrahim sprinted past her markers to poke the ball past the goalkeeper in the eighth minute. In the 15th minute Brooke Gill shot from 20 yards out but the shot deflected off the Stallions defender and into the goal. The Coyotes tied the game at 1-1.
The Stallions opened the second half with an early goal after Ibrahim converted her second goal of the game. She latched onto a loose ball for the score.
In the 13th minute of the second half, Madera goalkeeper Jessica Diaz stepped up to punch the ball out of bounds to keep the score close.
The Stallions effectively ended the game after Itzel Rodriguez crossed the ball to Gigi Gutierrez, who headed the ball home for the third goal of the game.
The Coyotes showed fight at the end after Alyssa Garcia converted the penalty shot but they were unable to muster out the comeback win.