Savannah Schmidt of Bishop Gorman High School poses with her 2012 Class 4A NIAA award

High School Soccer: Bishop Gorman Girls Take Nevada Title

Savannah Schmidt of Bishop Gorman High School poses with her 2012 Class 4A NIAA award

After waiting over a decade, the Bishop Gorman High School girls’ soccer team returned to the top of the Class 4A Southern Nevada prep mountain with a decisive 4-0 defeat of Green Valley High School. Not satisfied with just one honor, though, the Gaels also were named 2012 Nevada Academic Sports Champions, with the highest team GPA.

In addition, three members of the team were named to All-Southern Nevada and All-Sunrise Region teams. Bishop Gorman, which plays in the Southwest Division of the Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association (NIAA) Sunset 4A Region, had last won the state championship in 2001.

The Gaels began their run to the title by defeating Shadow Ridge High School from the Northwest Division. After playing most of the first half in a scoreless tie, Gorman picked up their first goal with ten minutes left. After a foul on Shadow Ridge goalkeeper Dallas Gunny inside the box, senior Mia Moore was selected to take the penalty kick. Moore, who will continue her education and soccer at Loyola Marymount in the fall, fired a shot into the bottom right corner to open the floodgates. A goal by Kaila Brinkman with three minutes in the half gave the Gaels a 2-0 halftime lead. The final goal was netted by senior Haley Wingender, who picked up a crossing pass by Isabella Sorrentino, to give Gorman the 3-0 victory.

The Gaels closed out their Sunset Region championship run against Centennial High School in a hard-fought 1-0 match. In spite of being outplayed most of the match, the Gorman girls managed to keep the Bulldogs off the board long enough for Charlotte Brascia to score on a fast break in the 63^rd minute. It was the Gaels only shot on goal in the second half, but it was all they needed. It was a classic case of the dominant team in a match not getting the breaks and the opponent cashing in on their one real chance.

The state championship matched Sunset Region winners Bishop Gorman with defending Southern Nevada champion Green Valley High School, who had won the Sunrise Region. The Gaels were determined not to have another close game, and in the ninth minute Wingender, who will go on to Northern Arizona University, sent a crossing pass that Brascia headed in to open the scoring. Two minutes later Brascia added a second goal off a Brinkman corner kick, and in the 16^th minute Wingender netted the first of her two goals with a shot inside the far post. With seven minutes left before halftime Wingender picked up her second goal off a free kick.

The second half was a scoreless duel as Green Valley attempted to get back into the game and Bishop Gorman worked just as hard to keep them out. Gaels goalkeepers Angelica Pawlowski and Sam Higgens shared net minding duties to earn the clean sheet, aided by a strong defense. Center back Allie Arguello, who missed the Gaels’ earlier playoff games due to injury, came back to help anchor the back line against Green Valley alongside Sorrentino.

For their outstanding season, Wingender, Moore and Arguello were named to the Class 4A All-Southern Nevada team. The three were joined by teammate Ally Ocon on the All-Sunset Region Team and Brascia rounded out the group on the All-Southwest League roster.

The 2012 title marks Bishop Gorman’s sixth girls soccer championship, following 3A titles in 1993 and 1996 and previous 4A crowns in 1997, 1999 and 2001.

You can read more about the Bishop Gorman Gaels in the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

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