The girls soccer programs at Torrey Pines and Granite Hills are no strangers to one another.
In the last five seasons, the two have locked horns four times, with each coming away with two wins against the other.
On Tuesday night the two met once again.
This time in the opening round of the CIF San Diego Section Open Division playoffs, where Torrey Pines beat Granite Hills 2-0. The teams play again Thursday as part of the Open Division’s two-leg format.
“Our gameplan is the same one we’ve had since winter break: focus on us,” Falcons coach Martyn Hansford said. “It was clear early on that they were going to sit very deep and try to stay in the game, so we knew we had to be patient and build our way.”
The Falcons controlled possession for much of the first half.
The duo of Sophia Bastidos and Maya Washington helped control the midfield and attacking third for the Falcons.
Torrey Pines generated a number of quality early looks at goal, including shots on goal by Isabella Forrester in the 14th minute and again by Washington in the 26th.
The Falcons’ constant first-half pressure would eventually bear fruit.
In the 40th minute, Washington played an excellent ball forward to Forrester who beat the Eagles keeper to her right from just outside the box, handing Torrey Pines a 1-0 lead at the midway point.
“Maya is only a sophomore and is just incredible, and she picked a good there to Isabella, who did a great job to finish it,” Hansford said. “Their center backs were very strong on physical, and our attack did a good job to work their way in rather than heaving hopeful balls or crosses in.”
Returning from the break, Torrey Pines continued to apply pressure. The pace along both their wings from both McKenzie Brown and Brooklyn Schwartzberg allowed the Falcons to live in the Eagles third of the pitch.
Granite Hills’ opportunities were snuffed out by a Falcons backline led by Kate Conway. The Eagles ed just one shot on goal for the entire second half.“At halftime, I said the biggest thing is to keep a clean sheet,” Hansford said. “I felt that with 40 minutes to play, the opportunities would come for us to add on.”
Hansford’s team would prove him right. In the 65th minute, Torrey Pines attempted a free kick from 20 yards out.
Bastidos hammered a hooking ball into the top right corner to make it a 2-0 Falcons lead and put the game on ice.
“Sophia is so versatile,” Hansford said. “She just has a love for the game, a really high soccer IQ, very technically sound, and an extremely talented player. That spot is a good range for her, and it was a great free kick.”
