Photo by Sanir Byanjankar

The girls’ soccer team celebrates junior midfielder/forward Irene Sánchez Burgueño’s game-winning goal in overtime. The Cats defeated the Wootton Patriots 2-1 to improve their record to 7-0.

In their first week of divisional play, the girls’ soccer team (7-0) added two more wins to their currently unbeaten record.

On Tuesday, Sept. 27, the Cats traveled to Richard Montgomery where they defeated the Rockets (3-3) 3-0. Senior captain and midfielder/forward Aranda Hurge made two goals and junior midfielder/forward Irene Sánchez Burgueño scored as well.

Two days later, the Cats faced the Wootton Patriots (3-3) who narrowly defeated them the year prior. The Wildcats prevailed in overtime 2-1.

“Throughout the season, this has been one of the games we’ve been talking about the most, so we’ve really been practicing and working on making sure that we [were] ready when we play Wootton because this was one of the games we really wanted to win and get back at them for,” junior midfielder/forward Emily Akpebu said.

The Patriots took an early lead with a breakaway goal from junior forward Kate Hawley with 14:22 remaining in the first half. The Cats had many shots on goal but Wootton senior keeper Karen Potts stopped all of them until late in the game. The Cats nearly struck back with a goal halfway through the second half from senior forward Caroline Williams, but it was called back because of an offsides penalty.

“I think it was really frustrating for us. I know I was upset about it obviously, but the rest of my team [knows] how to pick up even after a frustrating call like that and [keep going] even when we are disappointed,” Williams said.

The Cats were able to score on a goal by junior midfielder/forward Adena Nielsen with 11:33 remaining in regulation. No goals were scored during the remainder of regulation which brought the game to overtime.

“We had to be patient the whole game and once we got that goal, it just kicked off another level of momentum and we all could just feel that it was in our hands and we had to go take it,” Williams said.

Less than a minute into overtime, the Cats had a corner kick which Sánchez Burgueño was able to convert into the game winning goal.

“Obviously, [it was] a little nerve-racking, but everyone just needed to stay composed and keep up the intensity and obviously, we did it,” senior captain and midfielder Vivian Vendt said.

This week the Cats will face the BCC Barons (5-1) at home on Monday, Oct. 3, and then on Thursday, Oct. 6, they will go on the road for what is likely their toughest match of the season against the defending 4A State Champion Whitman Vikings (6-0) who also happen to be the team who eliminated the Wildcats from the playoffs last year. The team is ready for the challenge and more together than ever.

“We’re like a family so our team chemistry is already super amazing and we win together and for each other,” Vendt said.