A Score For Peninsula Soccer
On Feb. 2, the girls varsity soccer team defeated the Palos Verdes High School (PVHS) girls varsity soccer team 1-0 for the first time in four years in their final Bay League match of the 2021-22 season. Bay League is an annual high school athletic conference in which various sports teams from the South Bay compete; the league includes Peninsula, PVHS, Mira Costa High School, Culver City High School (CCHS), Redondo Union High School and Santa Monica High School. By the end of each season, the team that wins the most matches receives the title of Bay League Champion. Peninsula’s final match was played against PVHS, which is significant because it is considered to be Peninsula’s primary athletic rival. Junior Madison Woodward, who scored the winning goal, believes that the victory against PVHS was an emotional moment for the team and is happy that she made such an important contribution to the team’s success.
“It really meant a lot to us to win this game,” Woodward said. “It was so emotional when we all stormed the field after the game finished and ended our season on a high note. It felt especially great to make such a notable impact in this rivalry game by getting the goal and making sure that our seniors leave Peninsula with a great memory.”
The last time Peninsula won a girls soccer game against PVHS was in the 2017-18 season. Earlier this season, Peninsula competed against PVHS twice, losing both games with scores of 0-1 and 0-2. Apart from these losses, the team had notable victories throughout the season, which allowed them to build their confidence leading up to this final game; this includes the win against CCHS on Jan. 28, which ended with the score of 1-0. Varsity and junior varsity girls soccer coach Alli Ruvalcaba sees this victory as a learning experience for each player on the team and recognizes how special this particular win is for the players.
“This victory is something that this group of girls will remember throughout their soccer careers because they never got to experience what it is like to be on the winning side in this rivalry game,” Ruvalcaba said. “This really shows that these girls make a great team and they can take away some confidence that they can compete with any team in the future.”
After losing the first two games to PVHS, the team approached this final game with a more positive and fearless attitude, which helped lead them to victory. Recently, spectators were allowed back into the stands due to the loosening of coronavirus (COVID-19) protocols, which many players feel improved their performance for this final match. The team finished the 2021-22 season earning two victories, seven ties and four losses, and they ended fifth in the Bay League standings. To sophomore Sophie Lin, this game was incredibly important, as it means a lot to her and the team to end the season on a high note.
“The victory over PVHS was basically a redemption for us because they have been beating us previously in many matches,” Lin said. “Our team worked really hard this year to change our mindsets and try to play games with a fearless attitude. For the seniors, this win completes their high school career, and it is something that can inspire the upcoming players to work hard.”
