The Jaguars successfully held both opponents at zero during the first League games of the season By SARA A. McCARTHY ’05, M.Ed. On January 10, the Alverno Heights Academy Jaguars defeated the Bishop Conaty- Our Lady of Loretto Wildcats 3-0 in a Horizon League away game. The Jaguars’ first goal came in the 25th minute […]
The Jaguars successfully held both opponents at zero during the first League games of the season
By SARA A. McCARTHY ’05, M.Ed.
On January 10, the Alverno Heights Academy Jaguars defeated the Bishop Conaty- Our Lady of Loretto Wildcats 3-0 in a Horizon League away game.
The Jaguars’ first goal came in the 25th minute when freshman midfielder Amanda Mercado ‘21 (23) took a pass from sophomore midfielder Cassie Lianto ‘20 (10) and drove up the right-sideline to shoot through the hands of the Wildcats goalkeeper. In the 40th minute, senior midfielder Jazmin Rebollo ‘18 (19) made a run along the left-sideline and received a pass from co-captain junior midfielder Megan Cavender ‘19 (22). Rebollo ‘18 found Lianto ‘20 just outside the penalty box, and Lianto ‘20 scored the Jaguars’ second goal. In the 62nd minute, co-captain junior midfielder Beatriz Rivas ‘18 (16) took possession of the ball and passed to Lianto ‘20 who played a through-ball to Cavender ‘19. Cavender ‘19 shot the ball high past the outstretched arms of the goalkeeper for the Jaguars’ third goal.
Senior defender Nikki Oberhammer ‘18 (17) and freshman forward Afton Okwu ‘21 (18) combined with Mercado ‘21, Rebollo ‘18, Cavender ‘19, and Lianto ‘20 for the Jaguars’ 9 shots on goal. The Jaguars starting backline of junior Elisia Bendy ‘19 (2), and freshmen Helen Abascal ‘21 (3), Joanna Bendy ‘21 (6), and Nicole Sao ‘21 (9), did not allow a shot on goal or a corner kick; while the Wildcats defense gave up 9 corner kicks. Co-captain senior goalkeeper Ally Mercado ‘18 (0) earned her first clean slate of the season.
During the season opener, the Jaguars played a home game against the Sacred Heart of Jesus Comets. Plagued with illness and injury, the Jaguars at one point in the match played down 2 players; but team co-captain senior midfielder Ally Mercado’s (8) winning goal gave the team the season opening victory.
The Jaguars’ first scoring opportunity came in the 6th minute. Freshman midfielder Paola Munoz ‘21 (20) was able to break through the midfield and passed to freshman forward Emma Alvarez ‘21 (13). Alvarez ‘21 centered the ball to freshman forward Juliana Abascal ‘21 (11) whose header was saved by the Comets goalkeeper. In the 10th minute, co-captain junior midfielder Beatriz Rivas ‘19 (16) had a free kick that was blocked by the Comets goalkeeper. But it wasn’t until the 39th minute that a throw-in by Mercado ‘18 came back to her that she was able to shoot past the outstretched arms of the goalkeeper for the winning goal. Mercado ‘18 attempted an insurance goal in the second half with another shot on goal in the 45th minute, but the 1-0 lead stood for the victory.
The Jaguars backline of junior Elisia Bendy ‘19 (2), and freshmen Helen Abascal ‘21 (3), Joanna Bendy ‘21 (6), and Nicole Sao ‘21 (9), did not allow a corner kick and allowed only 5 shots on goal. Freshman goalkeeper Amanda Mercado ‘21 (0) saved those 5 shots on goal and earned her third clean slate of the season.
The two wins bring the Jaguars’ record to 2-0 and 4-5 overall. They will next face San Gabriel Mission on Friday, January 12, 2018.
About Alverno Heights Academy
Alverno Heights Academy is an all-girls, independent, progressive Catholic, college preparatory school dedicated to its mission of empowering each young woman to be exactly the person she wants to be. Located on the property of the former Barlow Estate in Sierra Madre, California, Alverno Heights Academy was founded in 1960 by the Sisters of St. Francis who sought to create an environment in the San Gabriel Valley where young women could become informed and knowledgeable persons. Later renamed Alverno High School and sponsored by the Immaculate Heart Community, Alverno’s program—academic, spiritual, aesthetic, social, and physical—has been shaped by the staff, trustees, and students. As Alverno Heights Academy once again, the school remains committed to its mission by encouraging each of their young women to be who they imagine. For more information about Alverno Heights Academy, please visit www.alvernoheightsacademy.org.
