Green Valley, Centennial to meet for 4A soccer title

Adam Candee

Friday, Feb. 21, 2003 | 10:05 a.m.

The Green Valley revenge train rolled through its latest challenge, leaving it just a single stop from its ultimate destination.

Controlling its 4A Southern Nevada State semifinal with Bishop Gorman from start to finish, Green Valley advanced to Saturday's title game with a 4-1 victory Thursday afternoon at Cimarron-Memorial High School.

The Gators will face Centennial for the state championship, as the Bulldogs routed Silverado, 7-1, in Thursday's second semifinal contest. The championship game begins at 11 a.m at Cimarron.

For the Gators, the name on the opposing jersey is inconsequential. Last year's title game loss to Chaparral still haunts a Green Valley team with 10 returning starters, and this season's theme is payback for the Gators.

"Our season is not done yet," Green Valley coach Joe Jablonski said. "We have to avenge what happened last year."

Green Valley used its superior ball control to frustrate the Gaels for the majority of the contest. Bishop Gorman found little daylight through the middle third of the field, and the same held true for its strikers near the goal. The Gators set out to play aggressive defense against the Gaels' offensive threats.

"Anything to distract their game," Jablonski said.

The Gators built a 3-0 lead before allowing Bishop Gorman on the scoreboard late in the second half, and Green Valley quickly answered that goal to account for the final margin.

Jablonski marveled at his team's ability to find scoring from different sources.

"This team is just incredible," Jablonski said. "They find a way to get those scores."

The prettiest of the Gators' four goals came midway through the second half, when Green Valley already held a 2-0 advantage. Kim Chock took a pass just beyond midfield and played a perfect touch right over Gorman's last defender, springing Emily Eskin for a run against Gaels keeper Hope Hinchman.

Hinchman made a great stop on Eskin's first shot, but the forward corralled her own rebound and tucked it into the low right corner of the goal to salt away the game. Chock added her own tally on a steal and quick shot later in the half.

Celebration was minimal on the Gators' sideline after the game.

"We want a state title," Jablonski said. "There is no substitute."