JV Devils kick off the season with a strong performance

The Davis High junior varsity girls soccer team upheld its annual tradition of opening the season with an undefeated performance against varsity competition at the Woodland Cal Spring Classic Tournament on Friday and Saturday.

In the first bracket game, Emily Torbert scored the first goal of the season for the Blue Devils — after a brilliant cross from Kate Bosco — and Brooke Rosenblum had the other tally in a 2-0 win over host Woodland. Rosenblum’s goal came at the end of a sequence that saw DHS’ Annie Leck send a nice ball to Bosco, who crossed to Kaplen for a drop-off pass.

The Devils’ shutout defense in that contest was paced by Claire Buhlman, Melissa Teuber, Kasey Carlson, Jordan Callahan, Megan Klisiewicz and Jodie Stroeve.

Later that day, Davis settled for a 2-2 draw with Casa Roble’s varsity squad. Trailing 1-0 at the half, the locals tied the score after the break when Hannah Thompson’s clever through ball found Makenna Rubinstein for a low blast into the net. Rubinstein scored again a few minutes later, off a pass from Elsa Iverson, but a late Rams goal tied it up.

On a windy Saturday morning, DHS outplayed the scrappy Calaveras Redskins, 2-0, taking control early on a goal from Iverson that came off of an impressive drive from Bhavna Kodira. Later in the first half, Torbert earned a penalty kick, which was converted by Alexis Olmedo.

Despite their 2-0-1 record in bracket play, the Blue Devils were edged by Casa Roble by goals and had to settle for the third-place match, where they defeated Vanden, 2-1, in overtime. Rubinstein put Davis on the board first and goalkeeper Mari O’Brien preserved the lead with a key save of a Viking penalty kick in the first half. Second-half keeper Chris Roeckl-Navazio also saved the lead with a crucial fingertip deflection but a miscommunication led to a late equalizer. Rubinstein, however, won the game in overtime with her fourth goal of the tournament.

Throughout the weekend, Devil midfielders Alex Diaz, Hannah DeKnikker, Marin Garcia and Mackenzie Quick provided support on both ends of the field.