COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA: The #5 Reivers beat the #9 Indian Hills Warrioris in a back-and-forth 4-3 Region XI Final.
HOW IT HAPPENED: The Reivers got started early in the 4th minute when sophomore captian Anna Hall broke free down the right side and found Ririka Kamimura inside the 6 yard box. The Japanese native tapped in first time to give the home team the ealry advantage. The lead wouldn't last long as Indian Hills struck back 2 minutes later when Indian Hills forward Georgie Lewis slipped Bailey Weimann into the 18 to finish one on one with the Reiver goalkeeper. The Warriors would strike again 20 minutes later through Risa Ogasawara. She blasted home from 35 yards out to give Indian Hills a 2-1 lead that would see them up at the break.
After halftime, the Reivers pressed more into the Warrior half. The pressure was rewarded with a corner kick, which the Reivers took short and found Marie Quentel open in the 18. The French women blasted a shot from 10 yards out that the Warrior keeper saved, but Paula Boza reacted first to the rebound to poke home from close range. With the score tied at 2, Weimann again answered for the visiting side. Seira Uko played a 25 yard through ball that put Weimann in on the right side and the sophomore was able to slip it home past the onrushing goal keeper. However, the Reivers would again be rewarded with another corner kick after pressing the Warrior goal. This time Boza played it back post to an oncoming Barbara Russo who tapped home for the late equalizer in the 74th minute.
Boza would grag her second goal and finish off the game in the 85th minute when she found herself alone at the top of the 18 after Kamimura passed to her on the counter. She eluded a Warrior defender and slipped the ball underneath the sliding Warrior keeper to seal the 4-3 win.
NOTES & NUMBERS: The Reivers win their 6th consecutive Region XI Championship, their 17th overall. Boza collected another 2 goals and an assist to increase her team leading totals to 14 & 15 respectively. Anna Hall, Ella Pelletier, Judit Goliveras, Mayu Inokawa, Marie Quentel, Ririka Kamimura, and Paula Boza were named to the All-Tournament Team.
QUOTES: Head Coach Adam Sanchez: "The team was absolutely fantastic with the courage, determination, and grit that was needed today. Indian Hills played a great match, but the players never flinched and their belief never waivered. It was awesome to witness the epitome of what we try to build play out on a soccer field. The players should be super proud of their effort and the quality they put into the match."
UP NEXT: The Reivers travel to Lewis & Clark CC on Saturday, November 6th for the NJCAA Central District Championship and a chance to win an automatic bid in the 2021 NJCAA National Tournament in Daytona Beach, Florida. Kick-off is scheduled for 12 pm. Match updates can be found on Twitter at @ReiverWSoccer.
