ROCKLIN — One thing is for sure: new Davis High girls soccer coach Sara Stone is not one to shy from scheduling tough opponents.

Having already taken on Stockton powerhouse St. Mary’s and Division II section champ Granite Bay this season, the Blue Devils traveled east and beat heavyweight Rocklin, 2-1, on Friday.

The Thunder (8-2) is coming off a 17-4-1 season under fourth-year mentor Paul Morrison and had lost to the The Bay in last year’s D-II title game.

“I enjoy having hard competition early in the year,” Stone said after a game that her assistant/father Ashley Yudin called a “high-intensity, hard-fought match.”

Stone said Rocklin had a strong junior base, was “collected and played a good style of soccer.”

For Davis, the fun began in the first half …

Emerging junior Kalani Ratnasiri darted through the Thunder backline and set up Rocklin’s goalie for a 1-on-1 goal. The Devil forward rocketed her shot between the keeper and the near post, giving her squad a 1-0 advantage.

Still up by a goal in the 60th minute, Rocklin finally roared.

DHS goalie Hannah Gendron made a save and the ball went skyward. Upon hitting earth, the spinning sphere kicked off in a strange direction, forcing Gendron to lunge. She and an RHS player collided in the box and the Thunder had a penalty kick.

Defender Taylor O’Rouke came forward and made good on her try, and the two Big Dogs were knotted at 1-1.

But Davis (8-1) kept the pressure on and got the game-winner when Makenzie DeLaughder launched a rocket that ricocheted off the leg of Sara Chase and, in a flash, avoided Rocklin keeper Joie Camalo. Credit Chase with her third goal in two nights (and a fortuitous assist to DeLaughder).

Drama continued as a late charge by the hosts saw new DHS keeper Maddy Purves diving to make a spectacular save. However, the ball lounged unattended in the box until sweeper Dana Granger sent it soaring toward midfield.

The Blue Devils played out the string.

(Purves also suffered an injury in her stint — “We were worried,” Yudin said. “But she stuck it out.”)

Devil coaches said Granger and their goalies were terrific and Ratnasiri drew Stone’s praise “for being able to break down their defense.”

The game marked the return of Hannah Mazet, Emily Gao and Megan Casey. Each saw limited playing time in their recoveries from ankle injuries. Anna Maria Gilbertson — last year’s leading scorer — remains sidelined.

“This was a hard first game for them to walk into,” Stone said. “But I think they did well.”

Next up for the DHS is a 3:30 p.m. Monday game at Will C. Wood (2-0-2), then Vista del Lago (3-1-1) — a 2-0 loser to Rocklin two weeks ago — is in town Friday. Game time is 7 p.m. at Yudin Field.

Notes: Davis is now 3-1 all-time against Rocklin. The Blue Devils topped the Thunder 2-0 in both 2009 and 2006, and lost to RHS, 2-0, in 2007, the year DHS captured one of its four Sac-Joaquin Section crowns. … Thursday’s and Friday’s games were a stark contrast in opponents. After toying with visiting Stagg, 8-0, the night before, the Devils saw a worthy opponent in Rocklin. The game with the Delta Kings had been slated before Stone took over coaching duties. … Junior midfielder Sophie Schmidt (ankle/foot) was held from the Friday contest.

— Reach Bruce Gallaudet at [email protected] or (530) 747-8047. View galleries or purchase prints of Blue Devil sports photos at http://davisenterprise.zenfolio.com.

Comments

comments