Another game, another shutout.
For the eighth time in Trans-Valley League play this season, the league champion Ripon girls soccer team posted a clean sheet with 5-0 win Thursday over visiting Riverbank at Stouffer Field.
“We have only surrendered one goal in TVL competition this year,” Indians coach Bryce Perkins said. “We have nine league games under our belt – eight by shutout – Escalon picked up a goal against us. It has been a dominant trip through the TVL.”
That domination continued Thursday night with Ripon (9-0 TVL, 18-4-2 overall) outshooting the Bruins (3-3-4, 8-7-2) 51-1. And even with that shot discrepancy, the Indians led just 1-0 at halftime on a solo goal by Jaydin Kroutil. In the 67th minute Kroutil assisted Ariana Daniels on a goal that made the score 4-0.
“Sometimes, we get caught up a lot in scoring,” Kroutil said. “Sometimes being a playmaker is just as important. My team can finish and being there for them is important especially since sometimes I struggle to finish.
“I know my role and I know that I can’t always shoot but I can always get my team the ball.”
Olivia Maragos tallied a pair of goals assisted by Katie Martin in the 45th minute and by Leilani Torres to wrap up the scoring with 11 minutes left in the game.
“I didn’t expect that first one to go in,” Maragos said. “It was one of those break-away moments and then when it went in I was thrilled because I have been out for a couple of weeks with a sprained ankle. It feels good to come back.
“The second one was a touch and a shoot. That one was for my dad who was at home and couldn’t make it to the game and the first one was for the seniors who I love and will miss.”
Kaiya Kroutil had the shot of the night with an unassisted blast from 30 yards out in the 55th minute that made the score 3-0.
“I couldn’t have done that without my team,” Kaiya Kroutil said. “My sister (Jaydin Kroutil) played really well in the middle and I think she found me.
“I heard everyone yelling at me to take a shot and I did.”
Ripon dominated from start to finish.
“I would say we had the ball on our side of the field for 77 of the 80 minutes,” Perkins said. “It was a pretty dominant performance. And believe it or not, Riverbank is a playoff team. They won’t make the playoffs in D-IV with us, but they will make it at the D-V or D-VI level. We are under the continued-success rule, so we are moving up to D-IV.
“We are hitting our stride right about now. I worry about a letdown, because we have played teams we have overwhelmed. It would be nice if we could draw a competitor at the end of the season but everyone is too crowded down the home stretch. Nobody has room for it, so we will have to glide into the playoffs next week.”
The Indians wrap up league play Thursday with the Sac-Joaquin Section announcing playoff pairings on Friday.
“We play Hughson on Thursday,” Perkins said. “It’s going to be a night game in Turlock because Hughson’s field is in such poor shape.
“We play at 8. That will be the wrap up on our league season. We hope to get our 19th win at that point and playoffs start next week.”
