Hilmar High girls soccer fall just short of NorCal championship with loss in penalty kicks

Just two days ago, the Hilmar High girls soccer team felt the elation of winning a playoff match on penalty kicks.

On Saturday, the Yellowjackets felt the sting of being on the other side.

Winters goalie Violet Tuel was called upon to kick the go-ahead goal in extra penalty kicks and then made the save the propelled the No. 6 seeded Warriors to the Northern California Regional Division V championship on Saturday afternoon at Hilmar High School.

Winters defeated No. 1 Hilmar 5-4 in penalty kicks after the match was tied 1-1 after regulation and a 15-minute overtime period. The match even went to sudden death penalty kicks after it was tied 4-4 after five penalty kicks apiece.

“It’s a lot of pressure,” Tuel said. “The last shot, I was just I have to block this and then I did. That was a great feeling.”

The Winter players were in tears as they celebrating winning an Northern California championship.

Hilmar players were also in tears as they finished one win short of bring the title home.

“They have nothing to be ashamed,” said Hilmar coach Guy Bettencourt, whose team finished the season with a 24-6-2 record. “They had a great season. Our goal was to win a blue banner and we ended up playing for the NorCal championship. That’s awesome, I told them I can’t ask for more.”

A large crowd from both teams and communities lined the sideline, a couple rows deep to watch the two teams square off. The fans suffered the a blistery cold afternoon with rain coming down in the second half.

Bettencourt couldn’t believe the support his team received.

“I’ve never seen this in Hilmar,” he said. “I’m so proud of the way the community supported this team. What the school did, the fire department put flags up. That’s never happened in soccer. I’m so proud of the way the community and the school responded, it’s unbelievable... I’ve never seen so many people out here.”

Winters struck first as Idaly Lopez Sanchez scored on a direct kick from about 30 yards out late in the first half to give the Warriors (19-4) a 1-0 lead.

Hilmar scored the equalizer early in the second half.

A Warriors defender was whistled for a hand ball in the box and Yellowjackets star Brisa Gonzales converted on the penalty kick to pull Hilmar even at 1-1 in the 43rd minute.

Both teams traded scoring opportunities in the second half and overtime, but the match went to penalty kicks.

Hilmar used the same five players who were called upon during its penalty kick victory in the semifinals against University Prep. Raylynn Mendoza, Finley Rosa, Gonzales and Sidney Logsdon all converted on their penalty kick attempts for the Yellowjackets.

Ava Muir Vickrey, Alondra Molina, Varenna Terronez and Ruby Campos scored on their penalty kicks for Winters.

Both Tuel and Hilmar goalie Kayden Elston came up with one save during the first five attempts to send the match to extra penalty kicks

After both teams misfired on their sixth penalty kicks, Tuel was asked to kick for Winters and scored to give the Warriors the lead.

Tuel then blocked the penalty kick attempt from Hilmar’s Lilly Brewer to seal the championship.

The Winters players sprinted to surround Tuel after she made the game-winning save.

“(Tuel) was a difference maker and that’s what happens on penalties,” Bettencourt said. “She made the saves she had to.”

Hilmar’s incredible postseason run came up just short.

“It was really fun,” Gonzales said. “I wouldn’t have thought we would have played 32 matches this season. It was a hell of a ride, we made it to NorCal Regions, we played our hearts out. We just didn’t the outcome we wanted.”

With every starter potentially returning next year for Hilmar the Yellowjackets could be in for another special season.

“The sky is the limit for this team,” Bettencourt said. “They should be better next year if they all come out.”