RIPON — Ripon celebrated the clinching of its second straight Trans-Valley League title Tuesday with an 8-0 thrashing of Riverbank on Senior Night, but the Indians won’t bask in the glow of the achievement for long.
They have their eyes set on an even bigger prize after setting for a runner-up finish in the Sac-Joaquin Section Division V playoffs last year.
“All year, ever since we walked off the field with Amador, knowing what we had coming back as a group (winning a section title) has been our goal,” Ripon coach Jamie DeBruyn said. “Yes, we want to win TVL, but the goal is to get back to that title game. It has kind of been the focus on the side for most of the season, but now that we’ve locked up the TVL we can start preparing for it.”
Ripon (10-1 TVL, 17-5 overall) wraps up the regular season at last-place Mountain House on Thursday. In Tuesday’s contest, five of Ripon’s seven seniors factored into the scoring with midfielder and captain Hailey Monroe sidelined with a pulled hamstring.
Senior Hailey Simmons kick started the onslaught in the 10th minute. Cindy Alvarez then struck in the 20th and 25th minutes with assists coming from seniors Alex Bair and Sarah Alves. Defender Lauren Weibe capped first-half scoring in the 35th.
Alves assisted fellow senior Alaina Cornilsen’s goal in the second half and scored one of her own with a header off Megan Harlan’s throw-in. Alayna Swilley and Alyssa Thweatt also had a goal each in the second half. Megan Johnson contributed two assists, while Avery Villalobos Megan Johnson and Alvarez added one each.
“It’s good to be able to (win the title) with a game to go,” DeBruyn said. “Tonight was a fun Senior Night.”