Centennial captures Southern Nevada title

Richard Brian

Centennial forward Sophie Krauza, center, celebrates after scoring against Coronado during the Southern Nevada soccer championship at Bettye Wilson Park Wednesday.

By Brett Okamoto (contact)

Wednesday, March 11, 2009 | 8:43 p.m.

Centennial claimed its second consecutive Southern Nevada championship with a 1-0 win over Coronado Wednesday at Bettye Wilson Park.

It was the fourth time in school history the Bulldogs finished the season on top, but this one came with a twist.

After losing to Arbor View 3-0 in the Sunset Regional semifinals on Feb. 26 , the Bulldogs thought their season had come to an end. The girls got new life, however, after the NIAA decided to replay the entire Sunset Regional bracket upon discovering that Shadow Ridge had used an ineligible player earlier in the year.

"We understand what it felt like to lose," said Centennial coach Emmanuel Ayim. "It wasn't too long ago that we thought we were out of the tournament. We had to take full advantage of the opportunity and we did."

Locked in a tie midway through the second half, junior Sophie Krauza got her head on a corner kick from senior Julie Owens to put the Bulldogs ahead in the 69th minute. The play came just minutes after Krauza had headed another corner kick slightly over the goal. Like her team, she didn't waste her second chance at it.

"I've scored a lot with my head and Julie's corner kicks are amazing," Krauza said. "To get that one in was the best feeling. I had to capitalize on the last corner kick we got."

The Cougars looked good at the start of the game, putting three shots on goal in the first half to the Bulldogs' one.

The turning point came when Centennial sophomore Faith Johannes scored off a rebound shot near the end of the first half. The goal was called back due to an offside penalty but it seemed to wake up the entire team.

"Basically the first 25 minutes of the game they were asleep," Ayim said. "I told them at halftime they had to wake up. We had the momentum going into the second half and I told them that we had to come out on the offensive. We didn't get the goal til late, but when we did it was deserving."

Coronado's sophomore goalkeeper Alexis Mansoor added another great game to her postseason performance, allowing just four goals in four playoff games. Mansoor saved the game on several occassions for the Cougars, coming up with key saves off breakaways from Krauza and freshman Sienna Drizin.

"She had one of her best games of the season here," said Coronado coach Dana Neel. "She came through, unfortunately we didn't come through on the other end."

The two teams had met previously this season, playing to a scoreless tie in Coronado's season opener on Dec. 9. This time there had to be a winner, and after already knowing what it felt like to go home short, the Bulldogs made sure it was them.

"It blows past the first one, to repeat your title is just amazing," Krauza said. "We took advantage of the second chance for sure and we worked our butts off to get this feeling again."

Brett Okamoto can be reached at 948-7817 or brett.okamoto@lasvegassun.com.