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Knights fall to CVC, Hilmar in 2nd day of RC Classic
Ripon Christian Girls Soccer Classic
Ripon Christian striker Dayna Koolhaas charges toward the goal with Hilmar defender Addie Belo trailing. - photo by JONAMAR JACINTO/The Bulletin

Ripon Christian took its first losses of the season on Thursday, but the experience gained may prove valuable for the future.

The Knights finished in fourth place in their 8th annual Ripon Christian Girls Soccer Classic, falling to upstart Central Valley Christian and Trans-Valley League contender Hilmar. CVC of Visalia blanked Argonaut 2-0 in the championship game.

“This is why you do tournaments, right? You want to play good competition, and I felt that both of the teams today were good competition,” Ripon Christian assistant

Ripon Christian Girls Soccer Classic
Ripon Christian’s Alanna Blanco absorbs the challenge from Hilmar defender Finley Rosa.
coach John Barnes said. “That’s what we’re shooting for. Yesterday, we played a little bit better and you can tell that we got a little tired (on Thursday) and that’s OK. Our team pushed through all the way until the end.”

Ripon Christian (10-2-1) opened the tournament Wednesday with one-sided wins against Riverbank and Escalon. Scores were 3-0 and 3-1, respectively. Dayna Koolhaas scored twice in each game. Cora Vander Meulen and Brooke Barnes contributed one goal apiece, and Shelby Terra had two assists.

Koolhaas accounted for both of the Knights’ goals on Day 2.

Hilmar (10-3-2) won the third-place match in a penalty-kick shootout, 4-2, after surviving Ripon Christian’s comeback rally in regulation. Brisa Gonzales struck twice to give the Yellowjackets a 2-0 lead, but Koolhaas and the Knights were able to draw even early in the second half.

Ripon Christian had multiple chances to put away the go-ahead goal, but Hilmar goalkeeper Kayden Elston was able to come up with big stops in the run of play. She also saved Ripon Christian’s first attempt in the shootout. The Knights skied their final try from the spot.

“I think some of it was tired legs, but sometimes it’s just a little touch in front and we’re not able to get there,” Barnes said of RC’s inability to finish its late opportunities. “I thought our girls played really well. We played as a team in the second half and the second part of the first half.”

Ripon Christian could never get untracked against Visalia-based Central Valley Christian (10-2-1), which got goals from underclassmen Ava Gambini, Emerson Kroeze and Reagan Neese.

“They move and pass, move and pass — that’s what soccer is all about,” Barnes said. “They controlled the game against us. We didn’t get a whole lot of shots off, we didn’t get the ball up to our forwards like we wanted to, but sometimes you play a little bit better of an opponent and I think that’s good for us in the long run.”

Ripon Christian resumes its title defense in the Southern Athletic League on Jan. 4 when it hosts Delhi.