SRHS hopes to sweep Mira Mesa
By Hector Trujillo
With only five games remaining in the regular season, the Scripps Ranch High School (SRHS) womens varsity soccer team looks to sweep rival Mira Mesa High School for the first time since the 2019-2020 season when they face each other on Friday, Jan. 27 at SRHS.
The first meeting between the two sides ended in a dramatic 2-1 comeback road victory by the Lady Falcons after trailing 1-0 at halftime. It was the second win of the season for Scripps Ranch, with the first coming on Dec. 6 in a road match versus Rancho Bernardo High School.
The first half of the season was marked by several close games, many of which ended in draws starting with the season-opener against Grossmont High School on Nov. 30. The others were versus Helix High School on Dec. 9, San Dieguito Academy High School on Dec. 12, Bishop’s on Dec. 16 and Steele Canyon on Jan. 4.
“We’ve been playing pretty well considering we have lots of younger players on the team this year,” said head coach Larry Pernicano. “We’re still trying to find our way scoring goals. We always work from the back and go forward.”
Pernicano has been the head coach for three decades and led the team to the 2018 CIF San Diego Section Division I Girls Soccer Championship.
Two of the loses Scripps Ranch High School suffered over the first 10 games this season came on Dec. 7 versus Temecula Valley, which was ranked among the top five of the nation in 2022; and then against the top-ranked team in San Diego, Westview High School, on Jan. 6.
“We’re working on the connection between our midfield and our forwards,” Pernicano said. “First thing you have to do is create the opportunities and then you have to focus on finishing those shots and putting them on frame.”
The Lady Falcons have many players contributing valuable minutes including seniors Bridgett Colletto, Sofia Dauz, Chloe Ellermeyer, Kate Hoover, Natalie Krebs, Cassidy Lacey, Noelle Mingo, Spencer Mountain, Daniela Ventimiglia and Jaiden Wick, along with sophomore Katherine Ellermeyer and sophomore goalkeeper Leiah Northcote.
After the rematch against Mira Mesa, Scripps Ranch closes out the season with a home game against San Diego High School on Jan. 30, a road match versus University City on Feb. 3, a home game against Academy of Our Lady of Peace on Feb. 8, and a road match versus Patrick Henry High School on Feb. 10 which will be the third meeting between the two teams this season.
