Eldorado girls soccer has tough draw in tournament

Spencer Patterson

Friday, Feb. 8, 2002 | 10:47 a.m.

Eldorado's girls soccer team didn't lose a game in Nevada this season, but the year's most important decision went against it on Tuesday.

That's when the Sundevils lost a coin flip to co-Northeast Division champion Chaparral, giving the Cowboys the top seed for the upcoming 4A Sunrise Region Tournament, which kicks off Saturday at the Bettye Wilson Soccer Complex.

And that means to reach the finals and advance to the 2002 4A State Tournament, Eldorado will likely need to post consecutive wins over east-side powers Silverado and Green Valley -- two teams the Sundevils beat for the first time in school history this season.

"I wish there was a way we could have determined it on the field instead of by a coin flip, but now that it's happened we'll have to go out and play with a chip on our shoulder," said Eldorado coach Gerald Pentsil, whose team finished the regular season 17-3-4.

The Sundevils will open the tournament at 12:15 p.m. against Silverado (11-7-3), the team that has knocked Eldorado out of the playoffs the past two seasons.

"The girls wanted to play Silverado since they've eliminated us in the second round the past two years," Pentsil said. "I told them until we get to that next round, we can't be considered in the same group as the Gormans, Centennials and Green Valleys."

In other first round Sunrise action, Southeast Division champion Green Valley (14-5-1) will face Rancho (5-10-1) at 10 a.m., Chaparral (11-4-3) will take on Coronado (8-3-4) at 10 a.m. and Foothill (11-3-4) will battle Las Vegas (7-8-1) at 12:15 p.m.

The 4A Sunset Region Tournament, which also begins Saturday at Bettye Wilson, promises to be highly competitive as well. Northwest Division champion Centennial (13-2-2) enters as a slight favorite.

"I don't think there's a whole lot of difference between most of these teams," Cheyenne coach Kristi Humphrey said.

Humphrey's Desert Shields (11-2-4) will open with a marquee matchup with Bonanza (11-2-4) at 12:15 p.m. Round one will also pit Gorman (8-4-5) against Palo Verde (7-5-5) at 10 a.m., Centennial against Clark (3-10) at 10 a.m. and Durango (6-4-2) against Cimarron-Memorial (8-6-3) at 12:15 p.m.