TEMECULA – An epic tale of victory amid adversity unfolded this season in the fiercely competitive arena of girls’ high school soccer. The Temecula Valley High School girls’ soccer team clinched their 7th consecutive Southwestern League title. This remarkable streak is not just a testament to skill and strategy on the field; it’s a celebration of the resilience and unity that embodied another extraordinary Golden Bears squad.
In the ballet of soccer, where each footwork and movement writes the symphony of victory or the silence of defeat, the Golden Bears have found their rhythm as the postseason race is set to begin. Facing fierce competition from highly skilled teams in the Southwestern League, they have emerged triumphant, carving a path for glory and setting a bar for sportsmanship in the coming weeks.
Obviously, dominance in soccer often shines through in the ability to outscore opponents, and the Golden Bears proved that in finding the back of the net all season long. They masterfully scored 33 goals in league action, with Murrieta Valley trailing behind at 20 and Great Oak firmly in third place with 17 goals.
“We are very proud of this year’s team,” beams Temecula Valley head coach Jennifer Guinn. “It was a fun journey, and we are anxious to go into playoffs with solid lessons learned that we can apply.”
One cannot overlook their impressive goal differential, a clear indicator of their offensive prowess and substantial defensive fortitude. Annika Jost, the Senior Captain, exudes leadership and determination. With an outstanding tally of goals and assists for the team, she’s committed to play at the formidable Air Force Academy upon graduation.
According to Guinn, “Her work rate and consistency in the middle is top-notch. Annika has a smooth style on the ball with an amazing Soccer IQ.” Moreover, Jost excels academically, sitting in the top 0.05% of her class, demonstrating that excellence on the field is matched equally by intellectual prowess.
The Golden Bears touted an arsenal of talent. Leading goal scorer Cassidy Drago, a junior committed to BYU, brilliantly netted 9 goals, and served up 6 assists this season. Hot on her heels was recent St. Mary’s College of California commit Ashlyn Vaughn, whose creativity and pace yielded 14 goals overall and a shining role as one of the team’s top scorers with 7 league goals.
“Ashley is creative, fast, and does a great job getting into the net,” added Guinn.
The Golden Bears defensive vanguard is young but unyielding. Sophomores Celia Ramos and Makenna August valiantly defended the Golden Bear’s net, making key saves that contributed immensely to the title chase. Tatum Carillo and Liberty Drago have anchored the defense, while seniors Ella Gessel and Arianna Lewis fortified the backline, proving proponents in the team’s tactical scheme.
The 2024 Southwestern League girls’ soccer standings and how the league shaped up this season:
Temecula Valley: 7 wins, 1 loss, 2 draws
Murrieta Valley: 6 wins, 0 losses, 4 draws
Great Oak: 4 wins, 1 loss, 5 draws
Vista Murrieta: 2 wins, 5 losses, 3 draws
Murrieta Mesa: 2 wins, 7 losses, 1 draw
Chaparral: 1 win, 8 losses, 1 draw
Among the shining stars from the Southwestern League were Destiny Cabrera and Kieana Smith from Vista Murrieta, who both captured 10 goals overall each, with Cabrera also assisting on 11 goals overall. Cabrera had 4 league goals, Smith had 2. Jost had a resounding impact with 10 goals overall as well (7 in the SWL) this season, and a commendable 10 assists.
The profound impact of a coach can never be underestimated. Coach Guinn speaks of her girls with pride, “Their love for each other and genuine desire to see each other succeed is something that as coaches we could not be more proud of.”
The postseason brackets were unveiled on the CIF Southern Section website at www.cifss.org on Saturday, Feb. 3, at 10:00 am. The tale of Temecula Valley’s Golden Bears remains a beacon of inspiration as they get set to host Villa Park in a Division 1 matchup Friday, Feb 8.
Guinn’s Golden Bears will be looking to best their early departure from last year’s playoffs in the first round. Their collective passion, their journey of overcoming obstacles, and their tale of unity and achievement will certainly be resonating deeply within the heart of the sports community as they look to be the last team standing.
Other Southwestern League teams that will be in the playoff hunt include Murrieta Valley traveling to Etiwanda (Div. 1), Vista Murrieta traveling to El Dorado (Div. 2), and Great Oak traveling to Beckman (Div. 4). Brackets can be found online at www.cifss.org.
JP Raineri can be reached by email at sports@reedermedia.com.
