Buena Victory Watered Down

Most teams will do just about anything to gain an advantage over the Buena High soccer team.

Canyon is no different.

The Cowboys decided to turn the sprinklers on in the afternoon to try to slow Buena’s high-powered offense, but the plan backfired.

A Buena parent showed up a few hours before the game and saw the sprinklers watering the field at Canyon High. When the Bulldogs learned of the ploy, it fired them up.

Motivated by the Cowboys’ antics, the Bulldogs took 26 shots en route to a 4-1 victory Tuesday night in a Division II second-round game.

“We showed up and wondered why it was so wet,” midfielder Lisa Engel of Buena said. “It hadn’t rained all day. We were pumped up before we heard about the sprinklers, but the pettiness increased our drive to want to win.”

The Bulldogs (26-1-2) extended their unbeaten streak to 23 games and will host Mira Costa in the quarterfinals on Thursday.

“We did turn on the sprinklers,” admitted Canyon Coach Greg Cohen, who would not elaborate.

Although Canyon put up an admirable fight, the Bulldogs never seemed threatened.

Ashleigh Garmon scored in the ninth minute and Brittny McDonald added a goal not two minutes later to give the Bulldogs a 2-0 lead.

“I don’t think anybody can run with Buena,” Cohen said. “I’m happy with our energy level. We played hard the entire 80 minutes. I’m proud of the effort we gave.”

Canyon (21-3-5) cut the deficit to 2-1 in 25th minute when Jaime Rendich stripped the ball from a Buena defender and cracked a shot from the top of the 18-yard box that beat goalkeeper Currie Hunt.

“We are very organized in the back, but there is a chance of a slip up in the back,” said Buena Coach Trish Butterbaugh.

Garmon scored her second goal in the 36th minute, taking a pass from Shameka Alford and beating goalkeeper Lyndsay Taylor for a 3-1 halftime lead.

Natalie Sanderson topped off the scoring when she half volleyed a cross from Stephanie Border that beat Taylor in the 59th minute.