Stagg coach Chris Campos quickly can identify his team’s biggest struggle during the regular season.
Sometimes that ball, it just did not want to go into the goal.
Opening up play at Wednesday’s Class 3A Sandburg Regional in a semifinal, the Chargers shook off their offensive woes and scored three first-half goals en route to a 5-0 win over Reavis.
“Every regional game is a fresh start, and we knew with a win we’d get to play Sandburg,” Stagg’s Allison Stefan said. “That’s always a friendly rivalry.”
Stagg (7-7-3) will play host Sandburg Friday at 4:30 p.m. for the regional title.
The Chargers fell to Sandburg 3-1 earlier this season.
Stefan and Jazmin Castanon scored two goals apiece in the semifinal win. Hannah Yandel added a goal and an assist for the Chargers.
Stefan set the tone early, connecting on a penalty kick just four minutes into the game.
Less than 10 minutes in, Castanon found the net, too. Yandel dribbled into the box and served up an open shot for her sophomore forward.
“I called for it, and Hannah got me the ball,” Castanon said. “Somehow the shot went in, and I was happy it did. Just a rush.”
Castanon added her second goal on a beauty of a shot, fielding the ball in the box and spinning right for the shot. She blasted a shot that found the net just under the crossbar over the outstretched hand of Reavis goalie Makalya Spielman.
Stagg took a commanding 3-0 lead into the half. Stefan and Yandel scored their goals less than five minutes into the second half.
“I think we all expected more this season,” Stefan said. “We knew we had a young team, and we fought really hard at the end of the season. The beginning was rough, but we’re ending it the way we wanted it.”
No. 10 seed Stagg defeated seventh-seeded Reavis 1-0 earlier this season.
“It’s a loaded sectional with a lot of improved teams,” Campos said. “We had an underwhelming year, but we’ve got potential. The girls did a nice job, and with five goals, we’re happy.”
Reavis finished the season 13-9. Coach Phil Basile’s squad expects to return nine starters next season.
“We got deflated after that first goal,” Basile said. “That sets the tone, and that’s the issue with our girls. It’s all about momentum. After that, we looked like we were pouting.”
