By Kyle LoJacono
A pair of Steinbrenner girls soccer players helped Hillsborough County end a three-year losing streak in the Senior Soccer All-Star Challenge.
Warriors forwards Cici Gonzalez and Taylor Valley each had an assist in Hillsborough’s 3-1 victory against Pinellas on March 9 at Countryside High. Gonzalez was given the Hillsborough Coaches Award for her work in the contest.
“Overall it was just a really fun experience,” said Gonzalez, a University of Tampa signee. “Of course it’s great to go out with wins for your high school career, but it was also just a really good time getting to play with the best players in the area. Winning for the first time in three years was a really good ending.”
Gonzalez sent a cross from the right corner on target for Tampa Prep’s Colby Maffei to head in with less than 3 minutes remaining in the first period for Hillsborough’s second goal. Valley assisted Newsome’s Elizabeth Haumschild after halftime.
The Warriors duo also helped the Florida Athletic Coaches Association (FACA) West All-Star team win the state championship at the University of South Florida the week before. They were joined by Land O’ Lakes defenders Arielle Le-Tran and Joelle Stewart, Freedom goalkeeper Emily Ball and Wharton midfielders Emily Belanger, Baylee Dozark and Brittany McNickle in the title run.
The West defeated the East all-stars 3-1 in the opening contest. Valley, an Armstrong Atlantic State University signee, scored two goals while Gonzalez added the other. McNickle had an assist and Ball, who has signed with the University of South Carolina, made four saves and allowed no goals in her time between the pipes.
The championship was completed with a 2-1 victory against the North. Gonzalez scored both goals, each coming in the final 10 minutes of the contest.
“We were pushing that whole game, so to get two great chances at the end to put my team ahead was a perfect ending,” Gonzalez said. She then added, “Getting to play with (Valley) in those last games was really special because we got to represent Steinbrenner together.”
Valley notched one assist in the final and Ball recorded three saves with no goals allowed.
