Top-seeded Clovis West completed its steamroll with an 11-6 victory over second-seeded Clovis for the Eagles' second straight title and ninth overall.
Clovis West did not lose to a team from the section in going 28-4 this season.
But this one didn't come easy for the Eagles, who didn't take the lead for good until Lauren Martin's second-half opening goal put them ahead 5-4.
"We tried to come out and get that first goal and just kept going from there," Martin said. "We needed that so we could get our hopes up."
Morgan Campbell and Mallory Rettig added goals in the first 2 minutes of the third quarter before Tristin Baxter took over.
The Bee's reigning Player of the Year scored three goals -- two on 5-meter penalty shots -- and had a steal during a minute stretch late in the third quarter to put Clovis West ahead at 10-4.
"Tristin had an amazing game," Clovis coach Noah Minton said. "She got some mismatches with us and that killed us."
Clovis (22-11) scored first and actually held a 4-2 lead with 2:02 left in the second period after Julie Austin's goal, but was outscored 9-2 the rest of the way.
"We realized we had to step it up," Baxter said. "It was time to go. I think we took advantage of our opportunities."
Published online on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2009
By Nick Giannandrea / The Fresno Bee |