SAN MARCOSSAN MARCOS — Emmy Monk’s high school soccer career could not have begun any worse … or finished any better.
A torn ACL and subsequent surgery wiped out her freshman season at Westview High. Another tear on the same right knee required two operations and canceled Seasons 2 and 3.
Most girls would have hung up their boots. Monk persevered.
And won. In style.
The 5-foot-7 forward with an infectious smile and positive attitude scored the lone goal with 3 minutes, 50 seconds left in Westview’s 1-0 win over Mission Hills in the Southern California Regional Division 2 championship at Mission Hills High on Saturday evening.
“It’s shocking, amazing and super exciting,” Monk said after leading the No. 8-seeded Wolverines (12-8-5) to victory over No. 3 Mission Hills (18-2-5). “It’s an amazing way to go out and end my senior season.”
The close, hard-fought match was to be expected by these Palomar League powers, who were playing for the third time in six weeks. Mission Hills won the first time, 3-1, followed by a 1-1 draw.
Both teams lost in the San Diego Section Open Division semifinals last week before winning twice this week in the SoCal playoffs. Westview had to get through top-seeded Palos Verdes (2-0), No. 5 Bakersfield Garces Memorial (2-1 in OT) and Mission Hills to give coach Peter Stogsdill and the Wolverines their third SoCal title (2014, 2021).
“This is what you play for, to see the girls celebrate,” said Stogsdill, who also has eight San Diego Section titles since becoming the Wolverines’ first coach in 2002. “This is what keeps you coming back.”
Now the goal … through the eyes and words of Monk: “Kaitlyn (Arciaga) played an amazing ball on the corner kick. I just happened to get the good end of it with my (right) foot. It bounced off the top of the crossbar and went in. I think.
“I saw it bounce toward the goal and the goalie missed it. But someone got in my way. I didn’t know it was in until everyone starting cheering.”
Mission Hills tried desperately to counter, but Westview’s mark-up stifling defense held onto the shutout, an especially sweet one considering Amanda Anders scored 31 of the Grizzzlies’ 49 goals this season and is widely considered one of the county’s top players.
“It was pretty nerve-wracking the whole game,” Westview goalie Soraya Souvanaphong said. “I play club with her, so I know her style. She’s a great player.”
Mission Hills lost only two games under second-year coach Kino Valdez.
“It’s been an absolutely extraordinary season,” Valdez said. “These girls are giants. I know this outcome does not define us. We’ll learn from this.”
As rain started dousing Jack Ashby Field, each team had only one shot on goal in the first 21 minutes. Mission Hills watched a deflection creep over the crossbar, and Westview midfielder Sanaa Bebal’s close-range slide shot was smothered by Grizzlies goalie Meleah Schilling. Mission Hills’ third corner was snared by a leaping Souvanaphong before a host of Grizzlies could get a head on the ball.
Both sides’ best scoring opportunities came from their leading scorers. In the 19th minute, Anders collected a middle near the top of the box, but her turnaround blast was blocked away by Souvanaphong. Two minutes later, Arciaga (9 goals) had her 8-foot straightaway shot blocked by Schilling.
In the 34th minute, an apparent breakaway goal by Anders was negated by an obvious offside penalty.
Westview dominated possession early in the second half. However, in quick succession, a free kick, two corners, another free kick and a hard shot by Monk resulted in zero goals.
The Grizzlies’ best chance came in the 26th minute, but three quick deflections eventually wound up in the clutches of Souvanaphong.
Lindgren is a freelance writer.
