Gators capture zone soccer title

Saturday, Feb. 21, 1998 | 11:58 a.m.

The Green Valley/Bishop Gorman matchup in girls soccer had as much hype behind it as a heavyweight title fight.

And when the Sunrise Division champion Gators squared off with Sunset Division champion Gaels in the 4A Southern zone title game on Saturday at UNLV's Peter Johann Memorial field, the two teams put on a memorable performance.

The Gators, who have an undefeated record against Las Vegas competition, rallied back from a one goal deficit in the second half to defeat the Gaels 2-1.

With Northern Nevada playing girls soccer in the fall, Green Valley also claims the state title. The Gators' boys soccer team also won the state title.

"It feels so awesome," Green Valley captain Becca Hughes said. "Our team worked so hard for this. We put so much heart into it. We battled back, we weren't going to walk off the field losers."

After both teams missed numerous opportunities to score in the first half, Gorman finally got on the board at the beginning of the second half.

In the 43rd minute, Gorman's Laura Kramer knocked a direct free kick from about 20-yards out over the head of Green Valley's goalkeeper and into the corner of the net.

Kramer's goal gave the Gaels a lead they'd hold for less than a minute.

On the very next play, Green Valley's Kelly McCall dribbled all the way down to in front of the Gorman goal. Her close distance shot was deflected into the corner of the field by a Gorman defender and chased down by Green Valley freshman Sarah Sillitoe.

Sillitoe floated a cross right in front of the goal and Kari Leavitt headed it home to tie the game at one.

With the blink of an eye, the Gators were back in the game.

Five minutes later, Green Valley scored the game winner.

With 28 minutes left, Green Valley junior J.B. Calabro, the Sunrise Division player of the year, scored on a free kick from 25-yards out to put her team ahead 2-1.

Calabro, who saw limited action in the title game with torn ligament in her upper ankle, made her time on the field worthwhile. She entered the game minutes before she was called upon to make the winning goal.

On the goal, Calabro's shot (with the injured foot) deflected off of the Gorman wall and found its way into the back of the net.

"I think this is a team of character," Green Valley coach Vince Hart said. "J.B. came off the bench with torn ligament in her ankle. She told me she wanted to stay in the game ... she wouldn't let me take her out."

Calabro proved to her coach and herself that she could play with pain.

"My God, that hurt so bad," Calabro, with an ice bag taped to her ankle, said of the winning goal. "I'm proud of myself. I've overcome so many obstacles all season."

Once Green Valley took the lead, the hard part began. Holding a high-powered Gorman offense scoreless for the remainder of the game wasn't an easy task.

The Gaels were literally inches away from tying the game.

With 22 minutes left in the game, Gorman had a goal waved off on an off-sides call. In addition, Gorman had one shot deflect off of the cross bar and another deflect off the side post.

No matter want the Gorman offense did, Green Valley and it's sophomore goalie Tara Graves came up big. Graves, who was called up from the junior varsity in the middle of the year, made several impressive saves in the second half.

"I was hoping that the clock would go faster," Graves said. "I was real nervous. I think we did great and next year we will do even better."