Prep Girls Soccer: Broncos edge Titans 1-0 to advance to semis
Mackenzie Simpson had not played forward all season for the Rancho Bernardo High girls soccer team. But Broncos coach Mark Sidebottom picked the perfect time to move the freshman up top.
Simpson scored the first goal of her high school career and Rancho Bernardo’s defense allowed just two shots, as the third-seeded Broncos eliminated No. 6 Poway 1-0 Saturday in the San Diego Section Division I quarterfinals.
Simpson, who usually plays defense, had no idea she would be playing forward Saturday. Sidebottom said she had been shooting well in practice and wanted to give her a shot up top while also adding maturity to his defense.
“It worked out both ways,” Sidebottom said. “Our defense played well and MacKenzie got her chance and put one away.”
Amanda Roy assisted Simpson’s goal, which came in the 29th minute. Roy dribbled straight toward the goal and then passed off to Simpson, who was on the right about 15 yards from the cage. Simpson fired to the far post, just getting it by the outstretched hands of Poway goalkeeper Allie Siefert.
“It was really intense,” Simpson said. “It is amazing that I scored. I am just really happy and so proud of our team.”
Rancho Bernardo advances to the semifinals, where it will either host No. 10 San Pasqual or travel to No. 2 Steele Canyon Wednesday for a 5 p.m. game (check back later for update of San Pasqual-Steele Canyon winner).
The Broncos are trying to reach their first section championship game in school history.
“Everybody has taken part this season,” Sidebottom said. “Everybody has contributed to helping us get this ranking and to this point of the season. We got the result we wanted today and now it’s back to work.”
A defense that did not allow much of anything Saturday is a big reason why the Broncos got past their rivals. The Titans beat Rancho Bernardo 2-1 in the regular-season finale, but struggled to get any offense going in this one.
The best opportunity for the Titans to score came in the 73rd minute. Tea Carrillo’s long throw-in found the head of Lauren Hess, but her header went just over the top of the cage.
“There were not too many of those long throw-ins today,” Sidebottom said. “Those are dangerous and I told the girls the less throws they get the less pressure we put on ourselves.”
It was the final game Jen Lalor will coach at Poway. Lalor, who wrapped up her 11th season, told the team at the beginning of the season that it would be her last. The Titans finished with a 12-8-2 record.