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Marshall scores in overtime to beat Hemet for CIF-SS Division 5 girls’ soccer title – Press Enterprise

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The Marshall and Hemet girls’ soccer teams reached the CIF Southern Section Division 5 Championship without conceding a goal in the playoffs, so something had to give way.

The result was a heavyweight bout that saw both teams tied 3-3 and needed overtime to determine a champion during Saturday’s game at Pasadena City College.

And one was crowned.

Marshall’s girls soccer team poses after winning the CIF-SS Division 5 girls soccer title. (Photo Vincent Nguyen)

In the fourth minute of sudden death overtime, Marshall senior Brianna Marquez fired a free-kick into the Hemet box to find junior Angely Puga unmarked. Puga turned it around with an easy, hard winner goal and a 4-3 win, giving Marshall the title and second championship in school history.

Puga scored twice to lead the Eagles and the celebration afterwards was emotional.

“We just ended up getting together,” said Marshall’s first-year coach Erika Prado. “This team was the strongest next to Palm Springs and one of the best (we played). We took care of business.

“My dream as a coach was to have a group like this to make a difference.”

Marshall (25-2) and Hemet (15-7-5) will advance to the CIF State Southern California regional playoffs next week. The pairings will be announced on Sunday.

The Eagles found themselves in an unfamiliar position, conceding two goals and falling behind twice, but each time they managed to bounce back to equalize 2-2 at half-time.

Both of Marshall’s first-half goals came from outside the box from shots by Marquez and second Esmeralda Jaquez.

“Today was tough,” Marquez said. “They pressed hard. We haven’t gotten that kind of challenge all year and today was the day. We made it.”

Hemet junior Helen Elizalde capitalized on Marshall’s mistake and broke away to score two goals for the Bulldogs. Both goals were assisted by junior Bridget Arnold.

Puga scored the starting shot for Marshall to take a 3-2 lead on the hour mark when the Hemet defense gave the ball away in the penalty area. It came from a stronger effort by the Eagles in the Bulldogs’ last third.

“We didn’t force it,” Puga said. “We played for possession. We didn’t play what they played. We played our game.”

With nearly nine minutes remaining, a poor clearance from the Eagles prompted Bulldogs junior Presley Searl to level with a shot from the box and force the game into overtime.

Hemet increased his pressure in the last 10 minutes of regulation and tried to carry that momentum into overtime.

“We thought we could shorten their overtaking lanes and then we could counter,” said Hemet coach Craig Dwinnell. “We didn’t react well”

It was also Hemet’s second championship appearance. Bulldogs coach Craig Dwinnell led the team to the 2013 finals, where they lost on penalties.

“That was a difficult question,” said Dwinnell.

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