Girls Soccer Championship

SCORE!!! -- Giovanna Varalta (8) heads in her second goal of the day. Carlos Paredes, Cooperative

Jaguars work hard to defeat Griffins

Diminutive Jaguar seventh grader Giovanna Varalta scored twice in the second half to break open a scoreless tie, and give the Cooperative girls varsity soccer team a 2-0 win over International, and the League championship.
Her first goal came during a free-for-all following a free kick in front of the Griffins goal during which Griffin goalie Regina Landivar fended off at least four Jaguar shots before Varalta put the ball in the net.

Varalta's second goal was a header on a corner kick by Tania Landivar that Varalta timed exquisitely. The achievement was all the more remarkable in view of the fact that Varalta was about the shortest player on the field.

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ACCEPTING PLAUDITS --

Giovanna Varalta waves back to crowd after second goal.

Carlos Paredes, Cooperative

The Griffins fought hard through the whole game, and had a number of opportunities to score. The championship game represented only the second time this year that Cooperative was held to only two goals. The Jaguar females have been averaging more than six goals a game, and had scored 13 in the two previous meeting of these two teams.
The Griffins also prevented Jaguar star Tania Landivar from scoring, the first time that has happened all year. Landivar had 20 goals during the regular season as a varsity player, and nine more playing junior varsity, thereby leading both divisions in scoring.
Credit for these defensive achievements has be shared, of course, but the bulk of it would have to go to Griffin goalie Landivar, who really only made one mistake all afternoon. That was when she fended off, rather than caught, the Landivar free kick that, eventually, Varalta put into the net.
Adriana Adriazola and Mariana Chavez also played their parts in blunting the usually potent Jaguar offense.

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KEEPING JAGUARS AT BAY --

Griffin goalie Regina Landivar booms one out of there. Jonatan Muñoz, International

Good as the Griffin defense was, the Jaguars were slightly better. Goalie Karla Aguilera didn't face as many challenges as Landivar at the other end of the field, but she conquered all she faced. Carla Limpias and Florenia Arnera played key roles in keeping the Griffin strikers away.
However, the Griffins got into the Jaguar end often enough. Melisa Roca had a shot that his the goalpost in the first half, and Ariane Nostas played aggressively on offense.
While Varalta's efforts put the points on the board, the Jaguar offensive effort was sustained in large measure by the steady and ball control talents of Cecelia Aponte.
The line-up for the Jaguars was Aguilera, Taly Rozenman, Limpias, Leyla Rozenman, Arnera, Aponte, Darinka Matkovic, Alexia Handal, Landivar, Varalta, Roseleny Kefer, Sofia Sotelo, and Ana Paola Perdeo.
For the Griffins: R. Landivar, Maria Gamarra, Nadine Witteveen, Ana Marin, Nataly Dajbura, Chavez, Adriana Ocampo, Ariane Nostas, Soraya Dajbura, Fabiana Murillo, Roca, Natalia Suarez, Lucia Londoño, Ana Gutierrez, and Marina Cabral.

GOOD FELLOWSHIP -- Victorious Jaguars pose with their trophy (top). Griffin girls embrace in team hug. Carlos Paredes, Cooperative, and Jonatan Muñoz, International