The third time was the charm for Yasmin Ballew.
The first one was “kind of embarrassing.”
It
all made for a memorable Tuesday night for Sierra’s grizzled
midfielder, who had a goal and an assist against visiting Beyer in a 3-0
victory that sends the Timberwolves to the Sac-Joaquin Section Division
III championship game.
The Patriots (20-2) of Modesto had an
18-match winning streak snapped. Meanwhile, top-seeded Sierra (26-2-2)
moves on to its 11th final-round appearance with an eye on a fifth
section title Thursday against No. 2 Vista del Lago (16-4-4) at
Consumnes Oaks High in Elk Grove.
Cal-bound Jadyn Shinn, Sierra’s
all-time leading scorer, put away her 45th goal of the season, sophomore
Nicole Martin capped off the second-half onslaught with the shot of the
match and keeper Callie Crain (four saves) kept the sheet clean for the
playoffs.
It was Ballew who kick started the Timberwolves after a
mostly-uneventful first half, tallying her 13th goal and ninth assist —
modest numbers compared to her totals from previous years. Sierra coach
Manuel Pires said that doesn’t make her any less valuable on a team
loaded with other talented scorers, including sophomore Tiana Cello (34
goals, 14 assists).
“Yas was huge,” Pires said. “She has that ability
and the confidence, but this year she has focused more on creating for
her teammates. Tonight, she knew she was going to have to be ready with
her opportunities.”
Ballew wasted a great look on the opening
possession of the second half. Cello threaded a good pass ahead to
Shinn, who then sent a perfect through ball to Ballew. Ballew sprinted
past the past defender but slipped as she shanked the shot on the first
touch.
“I was like, ‘You messed that one up so you better make up for
it later on,’” Ballew said. “That was kind of embarrassing, actually. I
figured there was 40 minutes left to try it again.”
She gave it another go five minutes later, but the left-footed try from the 18-yard line was deflected wide by the goalie.
Ballew
made it count in the 47th, evading two defenders on her way into the
penalty box before drilling it low and inside of the left post.
“This
is it for me, man,” said Ballew, who does not plan on playing soccer in
college. “I’m a senior, and this is the place I’ve given blood, sweat
and tears the past four years. This is my last shot, so I’m going to end
it with a bang.”
The T’wolves went on to own the second half.
Shortly after a corner kick for Beyer, Shinn intercepted a pass in the
defensive third and broke away to double Sierra’s lead in the 70th
minute. Then in the 74th, Ballew the playmaker helped set up Martin’s
highlight goal, sending it to the right winger after saving the ball
from going of bounds and beating a pair of defenders.
Martin had a tough angle to the goal, launched the shot from the right edge of the penalty box and nailed the opposite panel.
Sierra’s
defense held Beyer without a shot in the second half until Kayla Duenas
had her well-driven strike knocked down by Crain in the 72nd minute.
Kelsey Birdsong had the Patriots’ best opportunity shortly after that
but chipped it over the crossbar.
Beyer was outshot 17-6 but matched
Sierra in both possessions and opportunities in the opening half. The
Patriots nearly jumped out to an early lead in the ninth minute when
freshman Leah O’Brien — she’s their leading goal scorer with 30 on the
season — gathered a sloppy pass out of Sierra’s back line, but a
hard-charging Crain was able to stuff the one-on-one attempt.
“It’s
great to have that kind of experience back there,” Pires said of Crain, a
veteran between the posts. The Delta College commit started the year
playing defense but went back to goalie after Michaela Bitle sustained a
season-ending knee surgery.
Crain, Ballew and Shinn are four-year varsity players and team captains who look forward to their next match.
It’s
a rematch of the 2017 title match won by Folsom-based Vista del Lago,
3-1. The Eagles dispatched Capital Athletic League rival Christian
Brothers 3-1 in the other semifinal on Tuesday. No matter the result,
both teams are assured a spot in the CIF Northern California Regional
Championships.
“Redemption,” Ballew said. “They took it from us two years ago. We want this bad, but we know we’ll have to fight for it.”
GIRLS SOCCER: Sierra reaches 11th section final
Ballew sparks 3-goal barrage in second half against Beyer