HILLTOP SOCCER TEAM WINS FIRST PLAYOFF GAME
It was a cool, cloudy, and windy Thursday afternoon as the HILLTOP soccer team took the field for their first playoff game after going undefeated in the regular season. This was a home game against Valle Lindo, a team that had finished tenth in the league but beat a fifth placed team to advance to the playoffs.
Hilltop players were on the field about 45 minutes prior to the game doing various warm-up drills and stretches. Players from Valle Lindo slowly trickled in and by 4:45 p.m. they had a complete team on the field doing warm-ups too.
The game started at 5 p.m. with lots of Hilltop supporters including staff members, teachers, parents, and brothers and sisters on the sidelines. Valley Lindo struck early with the first goal being scored within two minutes of the game getting underway. Hilltop had opportunities early on but missed several shots either wide or over the goal. Then with only minutes remaining in the first half, Hector Lua scored a goal to tie the game. The first half ended with the score tied at 1-1.
“We are a second half team,” said Nicole Colmenero, mother of Hilltop soccer player Elijah Colmenero at half-time.
Her words were prophetic as Hilltop went on to win the game 3-1 with additional goals being scored by Hector Lua (with a fine assist from Mia Candido) and Elias Padilla.
After the game ended, in a show of good sportsmanship, both teams lined up on the mid field line and congratulated each other. Both teams went on to thank the officials and then ran down the side lines to high-five the fans.
Hilltop now advances to another playoff game at home on Thursday, May 12th. If we win, the team will go to the championship game to be played at the Olympic Training Center.
It was a cool, cloudy, and windy Thursday afternoon as the HILLTOP soccer team took the field for their first playoff game after going undefeated in the regular season. This was a home game against Valle Lindo, a team that had finished tenth in the league but beat a fifth placed team to advance to the playoffs.
Hilltop players were on the field about 45 minutes prior to the game doing various warm-up drills and stretches. Players from Valle Lindo slowly trickled in and by 4:45 p.m. they had a complete team on the field doing warm-ups too.
The game started at 5 p.m. with lots of Hilltop supporters including staff members, teachers, parents, and brothers and sisters on the sidelines. Valley Lindo struck early with the first goal being scored within two minutes of the game getting underway. Hilltop had opportunities early on but missed several shots either wide or over the goal. Then with only minutes remaining in the first half, Hector Lua scored a goal to tie the game. The first half ended with the score tied at 1-1.
“We are a second half team,” said Nicole Colmenero, mother of Hilltop soccer player Elijah Colmenero at half-time.
Her words were prophetic as Hilltop went on to win the game 3-1 with additional goals being scored by Hector Lua (with a fine assist from Mia Candido) and Elias Padilla.
After the game ended, in a show of good sportsmanship, both teams lined up on the mid field line and congratulated each other. Both teams went on to thank the officials and then ran down the side lines to high-five the fans.
Hilltop now advances to another playoff game at home on Thursday, May 12th. If we win, the team will go to the championship game to be played at the Olympic Training Center.