Broncos Girls Soccer Decisively Victorious Against Knights

Bella Vista High School’s girls’ varsity soccer kept Rio Linda keeper, Marina Vang busy Wednesday, serving the Knights a decisive loss, 10-0.

After Broncos senior forward, Leah Parrish got things rolling early in the 2^nd minute of play with a corner kick goal, the Knights were hard-pressed to keep the Bronco's ever-present offensive charge at bay. Though the Knights weren’t well matched against the Broncos, it was still a big B.V. win, giving the team a valuable "W" in the highly competitive Capital Valley League.

It’s a win Broncos players and coaches accept, knowing competition will only steadily build as the season progresses.

“We weren’t doing so good in the preseason,” Broncos junior forward Elizabeth “Bizzy” Baldwin said.

Commenting on the lessons the team takes away from a win against the Knights, Baldwin said, “You actually gain, because you play better as a team.”

The Broncos had trouble in preseason making goals, and knowing there is plenty the team can do to improve, Head Coach Christie Wheeler hasn’t let her team forget it.

“She just told us we can’t take anything for granted, and we have to be ready for anything,” Broncos senior keeper, Sarah Avery said.

The team realizes games such as these can hold little bearing on grander hopes, especially with rival teams Casa Roble and Oakmont looming in the next consecutive weeks. Oakmont holds top spot in league at 4-1-0.

“We need to have the mind set that this could be it; if we don’t win this game we are done,” Avery said.

Bella Vista improves to 4-2-1, taking over second place and breaking a three-way tie with Christian Brothers and Del Campo.

The Broncos won’t play another game till the team returns from Spring Break. And despite a big victory against the Knights, over the next 11 days Wheeler intends to keep the team practicing.

“We’re trying to build up to playing the next two really big games,” Wheeler said. “Their goal was to play with intensity the whole game.”

Wheeler explained that’s the reason behind Monday's victory against Christian Brothers and the reason why they won other competitive games like it.

“That’s why we were successful,” Wheeler said. “No matter who their opponent is, and no matter what I tell them they can score, they need to keep that mentality.”

The Broncos’ next game is April 25 when they host Casa Roble High School (2-2-1) at 4 p.m.