Coyotes fall twice in own showcase
Wendy Alexander/The Madera Tribune Madera midfielder Mia Alvarez (9) looks for an open teammate during Friday’s loss to Paso Robles during the first Madera Girls Soccer Showcase held in Memorial Stadium on Friday and Saturday.
After dropping a match they should have won the previous day, the Madera Coyote girls soccer team concluded the first Madera Girls Soccer Showcase with a 4-0 loss to California-San Ramon in Memorial Stadium.
The Coyotes lost to Paso Robles on Friday night on the first day of the showcase and allowed three second place goals in a loss to California, who are ranked 10th in the state and No. 34 in the nation.
“I thought Paso Robles was a game we should have won,” head coach Cameron Hill said. “We had more possession, more shots and had one error, which led to a goal. Tonight, we were just outmatched. They are a very good team. It was a good learning experience. You learn more when you lose.”
Overall, the 16-team showcase proved to be a success and Hill is already getting inquiries for next season.
“We talked to the teams and they all wanted to come back,” Hill said. “All the local teams want to come back. Some teams have heard about it and want to come in. We will see how it will work with more teams. We want to keep it here, the whole thing. It will make a long day. I also want to keep the games on turf. That was what brought some of the teams here”
After a slow start to the tournament, Hill thought the Central Section teams — Clovis North, Clovis West, Clovis, Bullard-Fresno and Frontier-Bakersfield — showed that the Central Section can play with the top teams in the state.
“It went well. It started kind of slow for the Central Section teams,” Hill said. “The teams started to pick it up knowing they were going against better competition. There were some good results today. Overall, it was a successful tournament.”
After trailing 1-0 into the second half, the Coyotes had their first chance to score in the second minute. Breesa Meza sent a pass to Brooke Gill on the left. She sent an open 20-yard shot high over the goal.
California scored six minutes later by taking the ball down the left side. A cross and a touch put the ball into the back of the net.
In the 15th minute, California kept the ball in front of the Madera goal and the Coyotes couldn’t get the clear. California found the far corner for another goal and a 3-0 lead.
In the 30th minute, California sent a long ball in front. The ball took a high hop by the Madera goalkeeper and California headed the ball into the back of the net.
The Coyotes had their best chance to score with two minutes left in the match. Gill headed the ball towards the front of the goal. Valerie Rivera sent a shot on goal towards the upper left corner, but the California keeper made a leaping save to close out a 4-0 victory.
