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BOTTOM TO THE TOP -- Fifth-grader Sophia Sciaroni (5, number partially obscured because it's tucked in pants) seems to have trouble finding a spot in pre-game huddle (left). After it's over she's the star of the show. (right).Jonatan Muñoz, International
Griffin Girls defeat Jaguars 2-1
Griffin fifth grader Sophia Sciaroni went on a late-game scoring spree that enabled the International junior varsity girls soccer team to defeat Cooperative 2-1 and take the soccer crown in a game played Thursday at International.
It is widely believed that this is the first time any Cooperative girls soccer team, varsity or junior varsity, has lost a playoff game.
The two teams were locked in a scorelesss tie late in the second half and the game appeared to be heading for Shootout City when Sciaroni, one of the smallest players on the field, apparently decided that something needed to be done. But it would take a few tries.
Her first breakaway shot was blocked with a marvelous leg save by Jaguar goalie Sophia Gonzalez. But minutes -- maybe seconds -- later Sciaroni scooted loose with the ball again, and this time she was not to be denied. Firing at point blank range she didn't hit the ball squarely, but squirted it off the left side of her foot at an une4xpected angle that Gonzalez had no chance of blocking.
A very short time later the Griffins unlimbered a complex corner kick tactic that resulted in a high, looping cross from the left-hand side of the goal. Sciaroni was ready for it on the opposite side of the net and tucked it in to make the score 2-0.
That did not conclude the scoring action. Cooperative came storming down the field, and after connecting a series of short passes, Christiani Zurita slammed the ball into the goal to cut the International advantage to 2-1. But time ran out before either side could launch another serious threat.
