Backdraft burns way to crown

The Carson Valley Backdraft under-16 girls soccer team finished its season last weekend by winning the championship in the Capital Classic. The Backdraft won two overtime games on Sunday to secure the title.

On Saturday the team began by defeating the Carson Fury 1-0 as C.J. Baumgartner scored the only goal even though the Backdraft had more than a dozen shots at the net. The second game was against the Vacaville, Calif., United Thunder. Vacaville prevailed 1-0 with a second half goal.

The Backdraft met the first seeded Sierra Storm of North Lake Tahoe on Sunday morning in the semifinals. The Backdraft had numerous shots that barely missed the mark. The defense repeatedly stopped the Storm's attacks and regulation time ended scoreless. Neither team could connect in two overtime periods so the match was decided in a shootout by penalty kicks. The Backdraft had a 3-2 lead after three kicks as Baumgartner, Amanda Ferraro and Sarah Owens all scored. The Storm tied it with the fifth kick but the Backdraft put it away 4-3 with the sixth kick by Ashley Hill.

The championship game was a rematch with Vacaville as the Thunder had crushed its other opponents by identical 5-1 scores. Nevertheless, the Backdraft entered the game with a lot of confidence and fired repeatedly, but unsuccessfully, at the net. Backdraft goalie Aleassa Anzelone had several saves to keep the game scoreless.

This game also went into overtime and almost ended there with a goal as two Backdraft shots missed the net by inches and Anzelone had two great saves to prevent winning shots. An unusual second straight shootout was needed to decide the tournament champion.

Baumgartner and Ferraro again connected on the first two penalty kicks but Vacaville tied it at two with its fourth kick. Briana Rutherdale gave the Backdraft a 3-2 lead with its fourth kick and Anzelone secured the victory by blocking the Thunder's fifth kick.

The Backdraft also concluded its regular season on May 21 with a league record of 7-1-2. The team is currently in first place in the 16 and under division of the Great Basin Youth Soccer League. The Backdraft defense was superb in the 10 games by recording eight shutouts and the offense outscored its opponents 33-6.

The Backdraft consists of Anzelone, Baumgartner, Ferraro, Hill, Owens, Rutherdale, Cami Arend, Kaylee Bell, Allie Bowen, Jillian Brune, Melissa Chambon, Kelsey Conklin, Nicole Duster, Shelby Eisele, Michelle Gibbons and Becca Neuffer. Mariana Aguilar, Lisa Christen and Michelle Day also joined the team at the Capital Classic. The team is coached by Amanda Mikulich, Michael Gibbons and Liz Baumgartner and can be contacted at 782-9511.