The Woodside High girls soccer program reflects in more than one game, one player or even one season.
Woodside stands as the original Central Coast Section champion, winning that distinction in 1977 on a goal from Karen Selven.
The Wildcats have since captured three more CCS titles (including the first Open Division title in 2016), all since 2013 and all under coach Jose Navarette, currently in his 25th season.
“He sets the tone for the whole program,” Woodside grad and girls junior varsity coach Eric Lopez said. “People know what to expect with Jose. He’s a good coach.”
Woodside’s 6-3 victory over Sequoia in a Peninsula Athletic League Bay Division match Tuesday was Navarette’s first game back from an illness.
His younger brother, Ignacio “Nacho” Navarette, listed as the team’s assistant coach, has been filling in.
Jose Navarette’s teams have qualified for the past 14 consecutive CCS tournaments and reached at least the quarterfinals in 12 of them and at least the semifinals in 10 of them.
The Wildcats are working on their 15th straight winning season.
“We have great leadership,” Woodside senior Elise Evans said. “The coaches do a good job of building leadership. It’s just great fundamentals.”
Navarette deflects the success to his players.
“Its them; it’s the girls,” he said. “They keep it going one year at a time by playing hard.”
Part of the continued success comes from Navarette’s view that the varsity and junior varsity are one big team, practice at the same time and do the same things.
“You see the growth and the rollover for the next year,” he said. “It’s also an attitude that once a game is over, the most important thing is getting ready for the next one. We’re at the midpoint of the season now and they realize what needs to be done to get better.”
Woodside (12-0, 4-0) scored the game’s first four goals and then had to scramble as Sequoia cut the lead in half.
Evans scored two goals in each half. The first one, in the 20th minute, was beautifully executed.
Rachel Mull made a nice run up the right side and sent a crossing pass that landed directly on Evans’ right toe in front of the net. Sequoia’s goalie never had a chance.
Evans made a nice run on the second goal and was able to sidestep the Sequoia goalie, who had come out to challenge.
Meanwhile, Addison Haws and Reese McKeon were among those who helped create scoring opportunities for Sequoia (8-3-1, 3-2-1), which took three corner kicks in the first 24 minutes.
Gabrielle Fraser and Sofia Bellver Eymann also scored for Woodside. Bellver Eymann also had two assists.
Pilar Vanheusden, Gisele Gutierrez, Kaitlin Ryan and Angeni Garcia were also helpful in Woodside’s attack.
Haws scored for Sequoia with a sliding kick that hit the far post and ricocheted into the net. McKeon’s crossing pass made it possible.
Haws added a penalty kick and McKeon, who also had a goal taken away because of an offside call, scored in the final minute.
Evans also scored on a penalty kick and added her fourth goal moments before the game ended.
“We like her at forward,” said Navarette, who also mentioned it was her fourth career four-goal game in two years with Woodside.
Evans is a center back by training and will likely be playing the position when she gets to Stanford in the fall.
Elsewhere in the PAL Bay Division, Menlo-Atherton (4-4-5, 0-1-4) played Burlingame (10-2-1, 3-1-1) to a scoreless tie. The Panthers are two points behind Woodside as a result.
West Bay Athletic League
Sydney Adas scored twice as Sacred Heart Prep tried to rally in a 4-3 loss at Notre Dame Belmont Tuesday.
Combined with Menlo’s 2-0 victory over Priory, the West Bay Athletic League standings suddenly became crowded at the top.
SHP, Menlo and ND Belmont each have one loss and are in a virtual tie for first place in the WBAL Foothill Division.
SHP (7-5-1, 3-1) plays Priory at 3:30 p.m., Notre Dame Belmont (9-5, 4-1) takes on Mercy Burllingame at Skyline College Saturday at 11a.m. and Menlo (9-4, 4-1) meets Sequoia in a non-league match at 12:30 p.m. Saturday.
Menlo sophomore Dorothy Zhang scored on an assist from junior Colby Wilson 10 minutes into the second half.
With 5:40 left, Menlo sophomore Taylor Tam scored on Wilson’s feed.
For Sacred Heart, Carly Gee also scored while Courtney Carpenter recorded a pair of assists. Hadley Twichell also had an assist.
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