Top 5 Goals – Girls High School Season 2024-2025 – Part 1

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>USE THE PROMO CODE almasin30 for a discount on your first subscription</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In my first year as a Prep Soccer Scout, I was able to capture some sensational goals during the high school season. Here are my top 5 goals for the Girls NorCal season, starting from the beginning of the season and moving on down towards the end of league competition. Later highlights will be on the section tournaments as well as the NorCal and possibly SoCal tournaments (essentially equivalent to a state championship). I want to give thanks to all the high school athletic directors and coaches for having me feature their teams and players.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This was one of the most entertaining matches I've covered up to that point. The Los Gatos Wildcats came in at first place with a 5-0-1 record (8-2-4) overall and the 48th ranking in CA. Both the Wildcats and the Santa Clara Bruins fielded some top-level club players, and it was great to evaluate some new and upcoming talent.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Bruins took the lead early in the first half due to an own goal as a set piece was sent to the penalty area. Each team had multiple chances to add to the score, but the goalkeepers on each side held their ground. In the second half, Los Gatos made an offensive push and got on the board by a perfect chip from Vanessa Leathem to striker[player_tooltip player_id='82602' first='Abby' last='Nelson']for a sweet equalizer goal. The ball was placed perfectly between two defenders, and Nelson directed it down and let it bounce three times before ripping it past the goalkeeper. Abby is ranked as #17 in CA and #3 in her position. She now has 9 goals on the season with 8 assists. She is on pace to surpass her freshman record of 16 goals. The Wildcats ended up in 1st place in their league with a record of 9-0-3 and an overall record of 12-3-6 and a CA ranking of #70.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Goal #1 – Los Gatos Striker [player_tooltip player_id='82602' first='Abby' last='Nelson'] scored a sweet Equalizer goal off a perfect chip!&nbsp; The score up to that point was 1-1 (LG Wildcats at Santa Clara Bruins).&nbsp; More goals to come.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/BayAreaSocScout/status/1884839712990634431","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/BayAreaSocScout/status/1884839712990634431 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Goal #2 - One of the best goals I've seen this season - CCS (Central Coast Section) 2025 - Superb effort by Santa Clara's Senior Forward Ava Rangel at flicking the ball over a defender and splitting two more before sending it home.&nbsp; The Bruins regained the lead at 2-1.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://twitter.com/BayAreaSocScout/status/1884952067263136010">https://twitter.com/BayAreaSocScout/status/1884952067263136010</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Los Gatos Senior midfielder Macie Yannoni's direct kick soared high above the wall before dropping between the crossbar and the GK's hand.&nbsp; It was simply perfect and literally unstoppable.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Goal #3 - Macie Yannoni tied the game for Los Gatos with a perfectly placed goal from a set piece from just outside the 30 yard line.&nbsp; This goal tied the match at 2-2 (Los Gatos at Santa Clara).<br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://twitter.com/BayAreaSocScout/status/1885156889283199117">https://twitter.com/BayAreaSocScout/status/1885156889283199117</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This was a critical game for the KIPP Navigate Tigers as they went up against a determined KIPP San Jose Collegiate Wolfpack team.&nbsp; Although it was a cold and rainy night, it is a welcomed sight to say the least.&nbsp; Both squads battled and after the dust settled the two goals by Alexa Sarabia gave the Tigers a commanding lead (10-0) going to the final 4 games stretch of the season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>San Jose Collegiate put up a great effort by slowing down the top two lead leading scorers (Keilani Baltodano and Sarabia).&nbsp; Both Baltodano and Sarabia came in as the leading tandem of 57 goals for and 4 against.&nbsp; The Tigers got their first undefeated season under Coach Allan Plews going (14-0) for 1st place.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":277303,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Keilani Baltodano","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'2u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"103","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"KIPP Navigate","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Alum Rock Futbol Club","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67f74dc6ddc19"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Is the league leading scorer with 16 goals coming into this match.  She has a quick first step and utilizes it when receiving over the top passes or lane passes behind the defense.  When it becomes a footrace, she has breakaway speed and is one of the fastest, if not the fastests player on the field.  Her finishing skills are top-notch and she can score anywhere within the 18-yard box.  She is definitely on track for the league scoring title as she added another 4 goals and an assist.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":277302,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Alexa Sarabia","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2028","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'6u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"102","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"KIPP Navigate","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"[program_tooltip program_id='283466' first='Santa' last='Clara Sporting']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67f746f799aa2"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Always seems to know where the ball is going.&nbsp; She positions herself between defenders and slices through with quick, calculated and decisive moves. Her dribbling skills are top notch as she easily got by multiple defenders.&nbsp; At times, she effortlessly took on 3-5 players in the attacking&nbsp; third before firing off shots.&nbsp; Sarabia is also rock solid in the midfield and she had the most touches and led the highly proficient attack.&nbsp; She's a smart and tough player who leads team assists and contributes as the #2 scorer on her team, while adding 4 goals and 2 assists during this match</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Goal #4 - Assignment #11 - KIPP Collegiate San Jose 2nd place vs. KIPP Navigate, Undefeated in League and 1st place - Second Goal by Alexa Sarabia was Simply Spectacular - Her shot started near the touchline and she sent a rocket to the back netting just below the crossbar.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/BayAreaSocScout/status/1885536995122000268","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/BayAreaSocScout/status/1885536995122000268 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This game featured a lot of top level club players from the Bay Area.&nbsp; The Saint Francis Lancers, the #8 ranked team in CA and #37 in the nation went up against a scrappy Presentation Panthers team.&nbsp; Two years ago, the Panthers won the Division II CCS (Central Coast Section) Championships, despite placing 5th in the tough WCAL league.&nbsp; On the other hand, the Lancers are back to back DI CCS Champions and winners of the 2023 CIF NorCal Division I Regional Championships.&nbsp; They pulled off the unthinkable as they won the Top Three Cups (League Champs, CCS Division 1 Champs, and NorCal Division 1 Champs).&nbsp; Coach Carlos Barboza should be considered for National Coach of the Year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>From start to finish, both teams went at it and I saw some great ball movement, superb technical skills, and highly competitive players.&nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id='111098' first='Emmy' last='Salita'] scored the first two goals for the Lancers, while slicing and running through the defense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Goal #5 - Great Finish - Goal #2 for [player_tooltip player_id='111098' first='Emmy' last='Salita'] - Saint Francis - #8 ranked team in CA.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://twitter.com/BayAreaSocScout/status/1885777504386113752">https://twitter.com/BayAreaSocScout/status/1885777504386113752</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>USE THE PROMO CODE almasin30 for a discount on your first subscription</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://twitter.com/BayAreaSocScout/status/1901345676673610217">https://twitter.com/BayAreaSocScout/status/1901345676673610217</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->