Coyotes pull off overtime win against Memorial
Wendy Alexander/The Madera Tribune
Madera’s Natlaia Mata (24) celebrates with Adela Alvarez after scoring the first of two gials in Thursday’s overtime win over San Joaquin Memorial.
Experience paid dividends for the Madera Coyotes girls soccer team when they pulled off a 3-2 overtime win against San Joaquin Memorial.
The Coyotes, who trailed early in the game after giving up a goal on a free kick, made their adjustments in the second half and forced the game into overtime before netting the game-winner Thursday evening.
“It’s an older team,” head coach Cameron Hill said. “We have a lot of seniors, a lot of upper classmen. They don’t give up. They keep fighting, they keep going.”
After the Panthers took the lead early in the first half on a goal by Lauren Lopez, Enslee Ashjian later added another goal for the visitors.
But the Coyotes would rally. That was thanks in large part to senior Natalia Mata, who scored two goals to help the Coyotes force overtime.
Mata scored her first goal when she was assisted by Atiana Pinon. The senior showed off her composure when she scored again in the second half, breaking away from the defenders and calmly slipping the ball through the legs of the keeper.
Mata had another chance earlier in the game when she received a cross from Adela Avarez. The senior, however, failed to beat the goalkeeper as she took a shot in front of goal.
The Coyotes also came close to scoring early in the second half when Mariah Zapata’s free kick bounced off the post and stayed out. After missing out on a few more opportunities, the Coyotes found themselves in an overtime duel with the Panthers.
The first 10-minute overtime period ended scoreless as both defense limited scoring opportunities.
In the second overtime period, however, junior Adela Alvarez received a pass from Mata and tucked the ball away inside the right post. Just like that, the home team found the winning goal with seconds left.
“It’s exciting. It’s part of the competition,” Hill said about the intense battle, adding that he was a little nervous. “The girls battled to the end. We got the goal that we deserved. It was a good game.”
