Verrado Girls Advance to Div. II Semifinals

Verrado's Sierra Smith (9) battles a Sabino opponent for possession of the ball en route to Verrado's 4-1 victory over Sabino on Saturday, Feb. 8.

The Verrado Girls soccer team has advanced to the AIA Div. II semifinals by virtue of a 4-1 victory over Tucson Sabino in a game played at Verrado High School on Saturday.

Four different Vipers found the back of the net to secure the win after Sabino opened the scoring with a goal off a parry by goalkeeper Shea Smith.

The Verrado scorers:

Sierra Smith ('33) - Smith scored on a corner kick by Taylor Desanti. Desanti kicked to Smith's feet just outside the penalty box and the ball was directed toward goal with one touch, deflected off a Sabino defender and into the net.

Jasmine Lhotka ('35) - Lhotka following a corner kick by Kristen Miller. The corner ricocheted off several player in front of the net.  The ball fell to Lhotka's feet and knocked the ball in from about four yards out.

Kristen Smith ('47) - Smith received a cross outside the 18-yard box and rocketed a shot past the Sabino keeper.

Taylor Desanti ('61) - Desanti wins the hustle award for this goal after a Sabino defender missed an attempted back pass or cross and passed the ball into open space between Desanti and the keeper.  Desanti sprinted from about 30 yards out to beat the keeper and defender to the ball and scored from just outside the 18 yard box.

With the victory the Vipers will now face Flagstaff in a rematch of one of only two teams to beat the Vipers this year.  Flagstaff came away with a 2-1 victory during the Arizona Soccer Showcase during the Christmas Holiday break.

The game is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. at Paradise Valley High School on Thursday, February 13.