It’s been a thrilling and gritty journey for the West Coast Soccer 07 NPL girls, who secured back-to-back wins in their State Cup quarterfinal and Round of 16 matches, advancing to the semifinals with poise and determination.

 

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Wild Finish for West Coast Soccer Under the Friday Night Lights – Winner in State Cup Round of 16 Thriller!

 

In a night filled with chaos, courage, and critters, the West Coast Soccer 07 NPL squad delivered an unforgettable performance in their State Cup clash Friday night against Santa Cruz — and it all ended with a walk off finish. 

 

The match, played under the lights, started off rough for West Coast, who found themselves trailing 2-0 at halftime. Sluggish play had fans anxious in the stands, as some major adjustments were clearly needed.

 

But the second half told a completely different story.

 

Tactical changes at the break sparked new life into the squad. West Coast came roaring back with intensity, and their first breakthrough came off a corner kick from Jayden Reynolds, perfectly placed to Jariah Indalecio, who finished it to cut the deficit to 2-1.

 

Shortly after, the momentum continued. This time, Jariah Indalecio turned provider, assisting Jayden Reynolds who found the back of the net to level the score at 2-2. The shift in energy was palpable.

 

West Coast’s midfield and attacking unit—Giovana Peralta, Kiara Walker, Kambrie Jehs, and Iliana Mendoza Parra—pushed the tempo and kept Santa Cruz on their heels. The defensive line of Athena Taylor, Addison Perry, Faythe DeLong, Ally Markowicz, and Mackenzie Johnston stood strong, helping to preserve the tie as regulation ended.

 

Then came the chaos.

 

A bizarre moment unfolded when a gopher ran onto the field and began chasing the Santa Cruz goalkeeper, halting play. The referee attempted to chase off the intruder with a sideline flag, but the persistent critter wasn’t budging—until Coach Troy Dayak stepped in, wrapped it in a jacket, and escorted it off the field to cheers from the crowd.

 

As the game resumed, West Coast appeared to score the go-ahead goal off another corner, only for it to be controversially called back for interference. With no resolution in regulation, the match moved to overtime.

 

As if the night hadn’t been dramatic enough, the stadium lights suddenly shut off with just one minute left in the second OT period, plunging the field into darkness. A 20-minute delay followed while the lights rebooted and nerves frayed.

 

With the match still tied, it all came down to penalty kicks.

 

West Coast came out strong in the shootout, burying their first three penalties with confident finishes from Jayden Reynolds, Giovana Peralta, and goalkeeper Avery Alves. Alves then made a brilliant save on Santa Cruz’s fourth attempt—what should have been the game-winner—but the referee ruled she had moved off her line early. Santa Cruz converted the retake, keeping the pressure on.

 

After two missed attempts from West Coast, the score remained deadlocked going into the seventh round.

 

With everything on the line, Taylen Dayak stepped up—calm, focused, and clutch. She buried the shot low and hard to the left of the keeper, clinching an emotional and hard-fought victory for West Coast.

 

“I’m so proud of this entire teams they are special,” said Coach Dayak. “What an incredible night!”

 

One thing’s for sure—no one in attendance will forget this game anytime soon. 

 

Less than a week later, 07s battled through a tense and hard-fought 2-1 victory over San Carlos.

 

Under the lights on a chilly Wednesday night, West Coast faced a fierce San Carlos side in the State Cup quarterfinals. After conceding early, the girls found themselves in an uphill battle, facing relentless pressure and a flurry of San Carlos shots.

 

But goalkeeper Avery Alves was sensational between the posts, coming up with several key saves to keep West Coast within reach.

 

The equalizer came through sheer force—Aliya Lopez rocketed a shot so hard that when a San Carlos defender attempted to clear it, the ball ricocheted off her and into the back of the net for the tying goal.

 

The score remained 1-1 for what felt like an eternity, as both teams battled through a physical, high-energy midfield war. Finally, Jariah Indalecio found the go-ahead goal, breaking the deadlock and sending West Coast into the semifinals.

 

Jayden Reynolds had a standout performance, controlling possession and creating numerous attacking chances. Offensively, Kylie Brasil added a spark up top, while Giovana Peralta, Kambrie Jehs, Iliana Mendoza Parra, and Kiara Walker brought toughness and balance in the midfield. Defensively, Taylen Dayak, Mackenzie Johnston, Addison Perry, Faythe Delong, and Ally Markowicz held the line with poise to protect the lead.

 

With their spot in the semifinals secured, the West Coast Soccer 07 NPL girls now await the result of the other quarterfinal matchup between West Coast’s other equally talented 07 team and San Juan South.

 

If West Coast sister 07 team can pull off the win, it would set up an all-West Coast semifinal NorCal State Cup showdown—a testament to the depth, talent, and dedication of the entire club.

 

No matter the opponent, one thing is certain West Coast Soccer 07 age group is a force to be reckoned with.