PAGE A16, KEIZERTIMES, OCTOBER 29, 2021
Celtics back in playoffs for fi rst time since 2017
SPORTS
McNary forward Yasheth Arciniega Rivera controls possession of the ball in the second half of the Celtics' 2-1 win over Mountain View.
S ccer
BY MATT RAWLINGS
Of the Keizertimes
Before the season began, the main
goal of the McNary girls' soccer team
was to qualify for the postseason, a feat
they hadn't accomplished in four years.
On Wednesday, Oct. 20, the Celtics
made that goal a reality in their fi nal
home game of the year.
With the score tied 1-1 in the 62nd
minute, junior forward Sydnee Alfano
scored the go-ahead goal off the pass
from Maya Alston to give the Celtics
the 2-1 victory against Mountain View.
It is the fi fth time in 22 seasons
that McNary has qualifi ed for the
postseason.
“We were under a lot of pressure
and we knew what we needed to do. We
knew we had to win,” Alfano said.
After winning six consecutive
games to conclude their non-league
slate, McNary began Mountain Valley
Conference (MVC) play with fi ve
straight losses. However, the victory
over Mountain View lifted McNary's
record over .500 (7-6), greatly boosting
their chances to nab a wild card playoff
spot.
“We needed to remind ourselves of
who we are and prove that we belong in
the playoff s,” McNary head coach
Lauren Brouse said. “It was a huge
win. It's huge for the players and
the program in general.”
After McNary couldn't convert
on their fi rst six shots-on-goal in
the opening 20 minutes, Mountain
View was able to take advantage
of a defensive lapse by the Celtics
when forward Alicia Welker moved
the ball past the back line to get
an uncontested shot by McNary
— LAUREN BROUSE
goalkeeper Hannah Ferguson,
McNary head coach
putting the Cougars up 1-0.
The Celtics had a number of
other chances at a goal in the
fi nal 20 minutes of the half, but a
Following the tying goal, the Celtics
number of outstanding saves from
began
to play with more confi dence.
Mountain View keeper Rylee Todd
kept the defi cit at 1-0.
See GSOC, page A21
“Their keeper made some amazing
saves. We weren't placing the ball well
enough, but (Todd) had a great night,”
Brouse said.
However, in the opening minute of
the second half, McNary capitalized on
a golden opportunity.
After a McNary throw-in deep in
Mountain View territory, Celtics for-
ward Yasheth Arciniega Rivera was
fouled in the box trying to corral the
pass, leading to a penalty kick.
McNary captain Isabelle Gatchet
was selected to take the penalty kick,
and in the fi nal home game of her
career, the senior defender buried a
ball in the back of the net past Todd to
tie the game at 1-1.
It was a huge
win. It's huge for
the players and
the program in
general.
Photo by MATT RAWLINGS of Keizertimes
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