Editor’s note: The girls’ varsity soccer statistics from the Garces Holiday Soccer Festival have not yet been added to Maxpreps. When they are posted, game details will be updated.

GIRLS’ SOCCER SPORT SHORTS, 2012-13–
(Scrimmages do not count toward win/loss record. Visit the Sports Section for girls’ soccer features). For a simple overview of scores and upcoming games, check the Winter sport box scores, 2012-13, for dates, opponents and times for all Eagle sports.

Be sure to visit the 2012-13 girls’ soccer schedule, home page, or check out Maxpreps.com. FC is currently 0-0 in the West Sequoia League and 5-5-1 overall as of Dec. 15. The Eagles will next host the Parlier Panthers, Jan. 9.

GIRLS’ SOCCER, 2012-13
GARCES HOLIDAY SOCCER FESTIVAL (Silver Division)–Dec. 14-15.
FC LOSES TO TAFT, PLACES FOURTH IN TOURNAMENT, 2-3–Dec. 15.
After coming off the loss to penalty kicks against Kern Valley, FC was physically and mentally drained but worked to muster up energy for their final game versus Taft High School, Dec. 15. In the fight for third place, the battle went back and forth but Taft was able to pull out one more goal, leading to a Wildcats victory, 3-2.

According to girls’ varsity coach Tony Martinez, the team started off slow due to being worn out from their other games.

“This was our third regulation game and the girls were tired,” Martinez said. “They knew they were playing for third. As the game started, we came out a little sluggish because of the amount of games played. It was a battle with each team exchanging scores. In the end Taft was the winner.”

Despite being tired, Martinez believes the girls played to their best ability and feels proud of the team’s improvement from last year.

“The girls played their hearts out; they left everything on the field,” Martinez said. “I am so proud of the girls. We were moved up a bracket from bronze to silver and played to that level. To walk away in fourth place was quite an achievement.”

Along with Martinez, junior Kaitlyn King thought the team gave everything they had but felt disappointed that their hard work did not reap even better results.

“It was a tough day for us having lost our first game then playing another one right after,” King said. “I know the team played their hearts out during the whole 100 minutes of the game against Kern Valley but its really hard to lose 2-1 in penalty kicks. While getting fourth place is an improvement from last year, it was frustrating not to place after all our hardwork and effort.”

FC ended the Garces Holiday Soccer Festival in fourth place, under the Silver division.

FC LOSES TO PENALTY KICKS, 2-1–Dec. 15.
In the Eagles’ second game, they took on the Kern Valley Broncos, Dec. 15. Neither team scored in the game, which led to two 10-minute halves and eventually to penalty kicks. The Broncos outshot the Eagles in PK’s, resulting in the Kern Valley victory, 2-1.

During the game, the Eagles showed great conviction and did well communicating with one another, according to coach Tony Martinez.

“The girls played the best game I’ve seen them play since taking over the program,” Martinez said. “Their confidence was up, their shots were up (20 for the game) and the communication was very good.”

Though the team did not end up on top, Martinez knows the girls played their best game yet and sees the areas where they can improve.

“Unfortunately, we didn’t put one in the net,” Martinez said. “They played 100 minutes of the best soccer this year. Although we didn’t come out victorious, I felt the girls played an excellent game. I think the girls definitely have to work on their penalty kicks.”

As the game goalkeeper, junior Annalise Rosik felt that the team played with the passion to win but was not able to finish, resulting in their loss.

“Our team played with a lot of heart and deternination to win,” Rosik said. “We were the better team, which showed up in the shot statistics but unfortunately we couldn’t finish. That same hard luck carried into PK’s too and we came up short.”

Personally, Rosik believes that she went into the game will full confidence but was frustrated with her own performance during PK’s.

“I went into the game focused on winning 100%,” Rosik said. “I think the 0-0 tie was a direct reflection of my mental determination. However, in the PK’s they [Kern Valley] had really good finishers and there was nothing I could do. I was mostly frustrated that I had slipped taking my own pentality kick because it could have made a difference.”

EAGLES DEFEAT BEARS, 4-1–Dec. 14.
While the student body at FC finished the first semester with a half day, the lady Eagles traveled to Bakersfield to participate in the annual Garces Holiday Soccer Festival, Dec. 14-15. In their first game of the tournament, the Eagles defeated the Arvin Bears, 4-1, Dec. 14.

According to junior offensive player Mikayla Messer, she believes the team played very well together and saw each girl put their best effort in.

“I thought that we all played a great game,” Messer said. “I saw every girl playing to the best of her ability and it was awesome to see all the passing that was put together that led to the four goals that we scored. I am definitely proud to be a part of this team and I look forward to the success we will acquire in league.”

For more sports shorts, read the Dec. 3 article, Girls’ soccer sports shorts: Fowler Lions Tournament.