The JV girls soccer team returned home to take on a 4-4 Benicia squad on Tuesday with coach Jose back on the sideline. They came out with a 3-1 victory, improving their season record to 4-2-1. Unlike some prior games where there was a big difference in performance between the first and second halves, the girls played well throughout this game despite Coach Jose at one point saying “hey can we get out of our own half [of the field]”.

The midfield had a particularly strong game. Caroline Tumilty (#8) had a couple nice through passes and scored a goal, and also had some great corner kicks that unfortunately the team was unable to convert.

The team also had a nice designed play on a free kick where Michaela Barbano (#18) kicked a ball through Julia Munter’s (#15) legs to Grace Eppinger (#22) who also nearly converted a goal. Michaela also had a nice shot that just bounced off the side post of the goal.

Grace Colaco (#7) did a great job controlling the ball in the midfield, dribbling effectively, changing direction, and sending some great balls through, including one to Caroline that she rocketed off the top of the crossbar.

The other goals game courtesy of Julia Munter (#15) on a shot she buried in the upper left corner of the goal, and one by Tatum Walsh (#13) that she also rocketed into the goal.

The defense, led by Ella Culbertson (#3), Sierra Goyert (#10), Olivia Kemp (#5), Molly Aldrich (#19), Natalie Hamill (#21) and helped by holding-mid Evelyn Lee (#9) and others continued to play well. The only goal Benicia was able to score was on a great free kick from the side where the ball sailed over the wall and hooked into the right top corner of the net.

My year of positivity continues. I want to thank James again for taking these great pictures. I also want to thank Andy Eppinger for letting me know that Coach Jose was jumping up and down not because he was cold, but to signal to the girls who formed the wall on a Benicia free kick to jump when the ball was kicked, and explaining that our goalie was falling on the ball at the end to kill clock. Lastly, I would like to thank my sweatshirt for keeping me as warm as possible on a frigid evening as I forgot to bring my puffer jacket.

Get to Know Coach: Coach Jose’s favorite meal his mom made at home when he was growing up was Ceviche, a seafood dish

The girls hit the road again on Friday to take on Northgate at 5pm