THE OFFICIAL SITE OF
Whitney High School Athletics

League-leading Whitney High girls soccer team may have been looking at the standings going into their match against Antelope (0-5-1) Jan. 19, but stepped up their offense in the second half to defeat the Titans 3-0. Although it took only eight minutes for the Wildcats’ Sarah Scott to slip her shot under the outstretched arm of Antelope’s goalkeeper and score, it took the ‘Cats almost 55 minutes to do it again. Fortunately, the Whitney defense held the visitors at bay until the game was sealed. Helping to hold the line were defenders Darian Louthan, Saira Costo and Misha Johnson. The Wildcats went on the attack at least 14 more times before Sammie Craig broke into the clear for a shot, but Craig’s shot was blocked. Alertly following up on the play, Laney Paduveris fielded the ricochet and fired the ball it into the net for a 2-0 lead. “I have to give credit it to their goalie. She had some good saves, but on our side we should have pressed a little bit more as a unit the first half,” said Whitney head coach Ana Jones. “One nothing we were just playing kick ball. Two nothing we’re feeling a little bit better and three nothing we seal the game and that’s how we played the last five minutes of the game.” Coming off a 5-0 victory against Cosumnes Oaks after pulling up a couple junior varsity players in order to fill out the team, the Wildcats were still struggling with limited numbers. Injuries and illness were taking a heavy toll and that continued against Antelope. Kiera Utush took a hard fall late in the first half and had to be helped off the field and did not return. Hannah Southworth, who has been treated for asthma, was forced to leave the game after suffering respiratory complications. Still not in their comfort zone at 2-0, another Wildcats’ attack was set up by Craig at the 75-minute mark. The senior approached the Titans’ goal from the corner and then fired a pass to Shay Valenzano. Valenzano’s shot caught Antelope’s goalie out of position and buried the ball in the back of the net. Jones said her players are also watching the Capital Valley Conference Standings and they know the second half of the season is going to be every bit as tough as the first. “It will be a battle. These girls do look at the standings; they look at how everybody is doing … ,” Jones said. “I tell you the second half is going to be a battle.” Whitney’s juggernaut through the Capital Valley Conference continued with wins over Bella Vista, 1-0 Tuesday, and Del Campo, 5-1 Thursday. Only five matches remain in the regular season.

THE OFFICIAL SITE OF
Whitney High School Athletics

WHITNEY GIRLS HOLD ONTO NO. 1 SPOT IN CONFERE

JIM LINSDAU

Placer Herald | 1/29/2017

PHOTO CREDIT: Whitney High School Athletics