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Stella El-Fishaway changed the complexion of Menlo’s girls soccer game against visiting Soquel on Saturday and it led to a Central Coast Section Division I championship.
El-Fishaway scored three times in Menlo’s 5-0 victory over visiting Soquel as the Knights claimed their sixth CCS title since 2012 and ninth overall.
Menlo was ahead 1-0 midway through the second half when Knights goalie Sam Sellers was issued a yellow card and had to leave the game. It was just outside the penalty box and Soquel had a unique opportunity to tie the game.
Instead, a steady wall of Menlo players (“Don’t jump,” yelled Menlo coach Ross Ireland) stayed put and forced a shot high over the net.
Menlo (10-0-1) went on the attack and a minute later had a scoring opportunity. The Soquel goalie came out to challenge the ball and blocked it but could not control it. El-Fishaway got the rebound and tapped it into an open net.
From that moment, it was all Menlo. Carolina Espinosa, El-Fishaway and Colby Wilson added goals in the final 15 minutes of play.
“We overcame a lot, so just being able to hold the trophy and celebrate with your closest friends, it’s just an amazing feeling,” El-Fishawy said. “With the limited practice and the limited games, we were able to form that chemistry and that bond together. I think we’ve played together at least once in high school or club and to have that knowledge of each other and I think that just added to the chemistry we had.”
Menlo’s defense proved the star of the contest as Soquel (12-2-1) rarely found an opening. The free kick was Soquel’s best scoring opportunity.
“Overwhelming team performance with discipline. We followed instructions about how to handle the opponent and once we scored, the confidence grew,” Ireland said. “We just had even more fluency; there was a spring to their step and absolute belief that they could win at that point. Sometimes a team really brings it, and when they hit form in the final game, I couldn’t ask for more. Great individual performances, brilliant team performance.”
El-Fishaway put the Knights ahead, scoring in the 11th minute after taking a pass from Julie Deffner.
Gabby Kogler and Madison Li assisted on Espinosa’s goal, Wilson aided El-Fishaway’s second goal and Kogler assisted on Wilson’s goal.
“We thought they would come out very physical and aggressive because we had heard from other teams, and I think they did that,” El-Fishaway said. “But I think we were able to match their physicality this game, connect the passes, playing quickly and just tried to get forward and take our chances.”
Deffner, El-Fishawy, Siena Gavin, Ellie Gruber, Kogler and Claire Pickering played their final matches in a Menlo uniform.
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