Ripon’s defense hadn’t given up more than two goals in a game all season until Friday.

And it was winless Modesto Christian, of all teams, that snapped that streak. Fortunately for the Indians, they did plenty enough on the other end of the field to leave Salida with a 6-3 victory.

Ripon (4-1-4 Trans-Valley League, 7-2-5 overall) previously shut out the Crusaders (0-8, 0-10) 6-0, but the arrival of four players from Modesto Christian’s state champion girls basketball squad helped make the rematch a different game.

“You can tell they are athletes,” Ripon coach Jamie DeBruyn said of the recent additions for MC. “They aren’t necessarily soccer girls but they are big and fast. They’ve definitely improved.”

Ripon struggled to finish easy opportunities at the start and went into halftime tied 1-1. Jessica Carmona broke the ice with a goal in the 19th minute. The Indians poured it on in the second half after missing a penalty kick.

Amanda Evans (three saves), who started at goalie, made her presence felt on the field in the 50th minute by scoring off a through pass from Hailey Monroe. Maci Christian padded the lead in the 62nd minute, and Evans struck again two minutes later with a powerful volley shot.

Modesto Christian put a scare into the Indians by scoring twice in a two-minute span, as standout Carsyn Hoogendorn pulled the Crusaders in by one with a penalty kick in the 70th minute.

Gia Helppie halted MC’s momentum with a long-range free kick, and Christian buried her second goal off an assist from Brooklyn Joachim to put it out of reach.

“Giving up three goals was kind of disappointing, but I’m glad offensively we were able to break through in the second half,” DeBruyn said.

Frosh-soph

Ripon 4, Ripon Christian 0

Alex VanDerMaaten struck for two goals, and Jasmine Caldwell dished out a pair of assists for Ripon (7-4-1) in a nonleague match against its neighboring rival.

Aliana Cornilsen contributed a goal and an assist. Reyna Gamboa scored one, and Ella Helppie added an assist.