By MARTY JAMES martyjames.sports@gmail.com
Mark Corbett can't say enough about the all-around effort and quality of play that his Napa Valley College women's soccer team – with just 11 players and no reserves – consistently puts forth in matches.
"I think it was a team-collective effort," Corbett said, following the Storm's 6-1 loss on Tuesday at home to Los Medanos College-Pittsburg, the Bay Valley Conference's first-place team. "We spoke about not stopping, getting back when we lose the ball, getting back behind it.
"I thought every player did really well.
"Big group effort. It was a collective one today. Not many teams even score against LMC. So, it's nice to get a goal against them. But more importantly, it was i90 minutes for all 11 players. No injuries. So, we'll look at that as a good, positive, with the conditioning."
Each player for Napa Valley (4-6-1 overall, 3-4-1 Bay Valley) played all 90 minutes.
Annie Sanchez, a freshman forward, scored the Storm's only goal, connecting on a penalty kick in the 80th minute of the second half after being fouled.
Corbett called it a "dynamic attacking play" by the Storm, with Sanchez leading the way. It was Sanchez's third straight game of converting a penalty kick.
"She's excellent at the penalty. So, we're confident when we get one, that she'll put one away," said Corbett.
"She's been leading the girls in the attacking front-line."
Los Medanos (9-5-2 overall, 7-0 Bay Valley) took a 2-0 lead at halftime.
Los Medanos, which is on a seven-game win streak, was led by Briana Garcia's three goals, a hat trick.
Garcia scored the first three goals of the game, coming at the 21-minute mark, the assist to Issabella Burton; 23-minute mark, the assist to Ariana Chavez; and unassisted at the 46-minute mark.
Additional goals for Los Medanos came from Brooke Gale, with the assist to Garcia, at the 57-minute mark; Emily Jimenez, with the assist to Gale, at the 64-minute mark; and Chavez, at the 88-minute mark, with the assist to Nathalie Farias.
"I feel all-around, we were against a quality team. Good, physical players, and fast. But our girls, we didn't give up," said Corbett.
NVC goal keeper Ariel Nunez made 10 saves.
"Ariel made some great saves," said Corbett.
Los Medanos coach Zach Sullivan was very impressed with the way the Storm played, despite having low numbers.
"They have a good coach (Mark Corbett) that I've known for a long time. They came out really hard," said Sullivan. "He does a really good job with them."
* Marty James is a freelance writer who makes his home in Napa. He retired on June 4, 2019 after spending 40 years as a sports writer, sports editor and executive sports editor for the Napa Valley Register, a daily newspaper in Napa County. He is a 1979 graduate of Sacramento State and a member of the California Golf Writers & Broadcasters Association. He was inducted into the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Hall of Fame in 2016, the Vintage High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 2019, and the Napa High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 2022.