El Modena Strikes Quickly, Holds On to Defeat Canyon

The El Modena girls’ soccer team combined power with perfection Saturday, scoring two goals in the first six minutes then holding on for a 2-0 victory over Canyon to win its first Southern Section championship in the Division II title game.

The Vanguards (23-5-2) played so flawlessly they left Comanche Coach Matt Kinney shaking his head in wonder after the game.

“They had speed in the right places and, I’ll tell you, Nicole Terry, Kaylee Whitfield and Jill Pearson were unstoppable,” Kinney said. “I don’t know if anybody could have beaten El Modena today. Their tackling was clinical and their finishing was fierce.”

Terry and Whitfield, El Modena’s high scoring forwards who have combined for 66 goals this season, consistently created problems for Canyon with powerful passes and shots. Pearson, a transfer from Pacifica and the sister of El Modena Coach Jeff Pearson, controlled the midfield with speed and finesse.

Although El Modena’s goals came early, they were not merely the product of luck. The first goal showed the Vanguards’ skill and the second showed their tenacity.

In the first minute, Terry sent a penetrating pass through the Canyon defense. Jessica Dahlberg ran onto it and and shot from about 18 yards out, sending the ball back across the goal and high into the net at the far post.

“The first goal was just a great ball. It split the defense and Jessica Dahlberg was right there,” said El Modena Coach Jeff Pearson. “I don’t think Canyon was flat, it was just too good of a ball.”

Five minutes later, El Modena struck again. This time, Whitfield took the ball alone straight toward the goal. She was tackled by two Canyon defenders but popped back up, gathered the ball and kicked hard.

“The ball got out and it was just sitting there and I used all my strength to get it in the back of the net,” Whitfield said.

After that, Whitfield had to wait just 74 more minutes to get something she has been wanting the past four years.

“Ever since I stepped foot into high school my dream has been to win CIF. To do it here in my last game is great,” she said.

Adding intrigue to the game is the heated Century League rivalry that has gone on between Canyon and El Modena for the past five years. El Modena has edged Canyon for the past three league titles, including this season’s. Canyon won the league title in 1993, when it also advanced to the Southern Section final.

In league games this season, Canyon won the first, 4-2, and El Modena won the second, 1-0.

“It was sweet. We won league and you expect never to meet them again and they come back to haunt you,” Pearson said.

Canyon (16-7-2) had several excellent chances to score throughout the game. Most notably, Michelle Bannister put the ball in the net with about 10 minutes remaining but another Comanche player was called for offsides.

“This was their day, this was their year,” Kinney said.