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Mar. 04, 2009
CORONADO ADVANCES TO FINALS Sunset soccer final delayed; forfeiture possibleNEVADAPREPS.COM
Joanna Ross was nervous when summoned to enter a tied playoff game in the closing minutes of the second overtime Monday. The Coronado sophomore goalkeeper just didn't show it. Ross blocked Rancho's first penalty kick, helping the Cougars pull off a 4-3 edge in penalty kicks, for a 3-2 win over Rancho in the Sunrise Region title game at Bettye Wilson Park. Coronado (16-1-2) advanced to the Southern Nevada championship, originally scheduled to be played Thursday at Wilson Park. The Cougars won't know who or when they're playing until an investigation into Shadow Ridge's possible use of an ineligible player in the Sunset tournament is resolved. Monday's Sunset final between Shadow Ridge and Arbor View was postponed as the Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association investigates a possible eligibility violation by a Shadow Ridge player. The NIAA learned late Sunday night that a Shadow Ridge player may be ineligible. The player, a freshman, started the school year at Arbor View and allegedly practiced with and scrimmaged with the Aggies before learning she was not at the correct school for her zone. The player participated in at least one match for Shadow Ridge. Under NIAA rules, an athlete cannot compete for two different schools in the same sport season. It's unclear whether the athlete competed in either of Shadow Ridge's two Sunset Region tournament wins. The Mustangs defeated Durango, 3-0 in the quarterfinals and Bishop Gorman, 1-0 in double overtime in the semifinals. Shadow Ridge could appeal the forfeits under a contribution to victory clause. Basically, the Mustangs would have to prove that the ineligible player did not contribute to the team's victory, which isn't an easy thing to do. If Shadow Ridge has to forfeit any playoff wins, it could mean the teams it beat -- Durango and Gorman -- would be back in the tournament, playing each other for the right to meet Arbor View. Those teams would need time to prepare and play a match, then have to play Arbor View. It's possible the state final may not be played until next week. The NIAA isn't excited about the idea of having to change the final standings, which could have affected which teams actually made the playoffs. Shadow Ridge finished second in the Northwest League with 30 points, followed by Arbor View (29), Palo Verde (26) and Cimarron-Memorial (22). Cimarron did not qualify for the playoffs, but any forfeits would change teams' point totals. Jahmela Muhammad scored in the 42nd and 65th minutes for Rancho (15-2-0) but was blocked by a diving Ross on the Rams' first penalty kick. Facing a do-or-die penalty kick, UCLA signee Zakiya Bywaters scored to pull Rancho into a 3-3 tie. But after Bailey Hagen scored to give Coronado a 4-3 edge, Rancho's Jenna Rae Lewis missed just over the top of the goal to end the game. Morgan Romito and Grace McConnell scored goals in regulation for Coronado. Veronica Subu assisted on both. Jessica Godwin and Cindy Hernandez scored on penalty kicks for Rancho. Veronica Subu, Alyssa Madden and Melissa Subu scored on PKs for the Cougars. Coronado was already without starting goalkeeper Alexis Mansoor, a sophomore who, sat out after being assessed a red card during the Cougars' 4-1 semifinal win over Silverado on Thursday. Jessica Swords had four saves in her place before Neel called upon Ross in anticipation of PKs. Rancho goalkeeper Rachael Wiltshire had seven saves. |
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