Thursday, Feb. 1, 2001 | 10:02 a.m.
The scenario was simple for Eldorado's girls soccer team Wednesday night: win the game and win the Northeast Division.
Standing between the Sundevils and that goal, however, was a visiting Rancho squad needing only a tie to take the division title. History was on the Rams' side as well, with the teams' previous five meetings ending in draws.
For 40 minutes, it looked like the game might go into the books as consecutive tie number six, with defensive-minded Rancho holding Eldorado without so much as a shot in the first half.
But after a spirited halftime speech by head coach Gerald Pentsil, the Sundevils woke up from their offensive slumber, scoring twice in the final 20 minutes to defeat their rivals 2-1.
"At the half, Coach Pentsil gave us a great speech," said Eldorado junior Erin Pictum, who scored her team's first goal. "Our stands were packed today, and we just wanted to use that energy and come out in the second half and play hard."
After seeing most of her team's best opportunities turned away by Rams sweeper Kamilah Bywaters, Pictum finally broke the scoreless deadlock in the 63rd minute, collecting a loose ball and blasting it past diving goalkeeper Rosa Becerra.
"I just trapped the ball and kicked," said Pictum, who had moved from her usual striker position into the midfield in an attempt to generate more second-half scoring chances. "I was aiming for the corner, hoping it went in."
With Rancho pushing upfield in an effort to score an equalizer, the Sundevils took advantage and scored again in the final five minutes. Eric Orozco received a crossing pass from Jennifer Merrell and deposited the ball in the back of the net, giving Eldorado a 2-0 advantage with time winding down.
Rancho scored in the final minute on a penalty kick by Bywaters.
With the win, Eldorado (15-6-3, 7-0-1 Northeast) gains the division's No. 1 seed. That gives the Sundevils a matchup with Foothill in the first round of the Sunrise Region Tournament Saturday at 10 a.m. at the Bettye Wilson Soccer Complex, located just north of Cimarron-Memorial High School.
"You'd always rather play the fourth seed than the third seed from the other side," Pentsil said. "Plus, we really wanted to win the division for the second year in a row."
Rancho (11-6-3, 6-1-1) will face Chaparral Saturday at noon.
The Sunrise Region's remaining two matchups will be determined later today, when Green Valley and Silverado face off in the regular season's final contest with the Southeast Division title at stake. The victor will face Las Vegas at 10 a.m. Saturday, while the loser will get Valley at noon.
In the Sunset Region Saturday, Northwest Division champion Centennial will battle Western Saturday at 10 a.m. while Durango takes on Cheyenne. In the bracket's other half, Southwest Division champ Bishop Gorman will square off with Palo Verde at noon while Cimarron faces Bonanza.
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