A piece of history

Bryce Alderton

Walnut High’s girls soccer team met its match against Costa Mesa

Saturday in the CIF Southern Section Division III final at Cal State

Fullerton.

But, then again, the same could be said in the reverse order as

the two schools dueled to a 0-0 tie at the end of regulation, both

sharing the championship in their first CIF title game in girls

soccer.

Mesa (22-1-3) took home CIF patches and Walnut was awarded the

plaque after a coin flip following the final whistle. Overtime is not

played in CIF title games.

The Mustangs, the No. 2-seed and champions of the Golden West

League, continued their unbeaten streak to 23 games and capped their

most successful season in 13 years of the program’s existence. But

some left the field Saturday wanting more.

“We came out here to win,” said senior sweeper Devin Denman, a

four-year varsity performer, who denied many crosses and deflected

several incoming shots hit by Walnut attackers, as she keyed a

defense that was tested.

Walnut (20-4-6), the No. 4-seed and champion of the San Antonio

League for its fifth consecutive league title (four in the Baseline

League), outshot the Mustangs, 15-8, relying on the firepower speed

of assist leader and sophomore Christina Carriaga and midfielder

Janessa Currier.

Freshman Jasmin Day, who used her gazelle-like strides to track

down balls in the Walnut zone for much of the game, shared similar

sentiments as Denman.

“I’m a little sad because we’ve come all the way here and wanted

to win,” Day said.

In the waning minutes, Day found herself positioned next to the

near post to receive a pass from junior Rachel Ronquillo. Ronquillo

crossed, but the ball sailed toward the back line, just out of Day’s

reach.

Minutes before, Day sprinted along the far side, but a lob pass

from her senior sister Sharon Day, an All-CIF performer a year ago

and four-year varsity standout who has scored 83 goals to go with 71

assists in her Mesa career, flew slightly over her head.

“(Ronquillo) crossed the ball and I hoped to whip around and get a

goal, but it didn’t happen,” said Jasmin, who amassed 24 goals along

with 14 assists this season.

The final minutes provided the most excitement on both sides.

Walnut missed its second golden scoring chance in the 74th minute

when freshman midfielder Tanya Slusser gained possession in the

middle of the field and crossed to Carriaga. But Mesa junior

goalkeeper Kaitlyn Gentling, who relieved an injured Kindra Bailey in

the second half, came out to deter Carriaga just enough that the shot

flew over the crossbar, eliciting a pronounced “oh” from the Walnut

faithful. About 500 were in attendance.

In the 33rd minute, sophomore midfielder Andrea Fagen crossed to

Slusser, who had broken toward the goal with only Bailey to beat. But

the Mesa goalkeeper tipped the shot over the goal.

“That stuff has happened to us all year long,” said Walnut Coach

Scott DeGraff, in his sixth year at the varsity helm and 17th at the

school, about the missed opportunities. “We had the opportunities but

just forced the shots over the goal. But we definitely played strong

the whole game. Our goalkeepers stepped up so much throughout this

year and took charge.”

Goalkeepers on both teams denied any shots that came their way.

Bailey had six saves while Gentling recorded one stop during her 20

minutes in net.

Bailey and Walnut forward Nicki Becker collided in the six-yard

box as players jostled for posittion to receive an incoming corner

kick by senior Cyndi Gurrola. Both players laid on the ground for

four minutes before being helped off the field by athletic staff.

After the game, Bailey held a pack of ice to her head. Becker had a

two-inch gash to her forehead and her parents took her to a nearby

hospital following the game, DeGraff said.

Bailey patrolled the goal and area around the net in cat-like

fashion, ready to pounce on any ball that came her way, even if it

was 15 yards out.

“Kindra was fired up and played great and Kaitlyn showed us what

she is made of, being tough when we needed her to be,” said Mesa

Coach Dan Johnston.

Much like Mesa’s 2-1 semifinal win over Bonita Tuesday, the

Mustangs started off slowly, but got into their stride as the game

wore on.

“We started slow, but had a great 10 minutes before the half,”

Johnston said. “We powered all over them and they are a great team.”

Sharon Day, who will compete in track and field and soccer next

season at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, took six of Mesa’s eight shots,

her best scoring chance coming on a boot from 25 yards out in the

34th minute that sailed over the goal.

Sophomore forward Jenny Sparks, who tallied 27 goals this season,

had a shot in the second half.

Mesa’s defense was aided by Kara Jenkins, Sara Bryant, Julie

Nomura, Nelly Barrios, Stacy Krikorian, Valerie Gomez, Laura Dinsdale

and Nilani Duarte, while Toshia Bryant, Rachel Hughes and Kristen

Bagwell anchored the midfield. Sophomore forward Vera Gale ran on the

front lines of Mesa attacks.

Mesa posted its 14th shutout -- a school record -- while Walnut

improved its unbeaten streak to 15 while allowing just one goal in

its playoff run.

When asked if a co-championship carries any consolation, Denman

said, “It’s hard for us to think about that right now. But, we are

the furthest any Mesa team has come and it has been so much fun this

year.”

Johnston summed up the season in a few words.

“It would have been nice to win the whole thing, but it doesn’t

bother me,” he said. “We had a magical season.”