This year’s AYSO season went quite well for both Gracie and Joey. It ended, as it traditionally does here in Bishop, with the Kit Carson Shootout All-Star Tournament. It took place over weekend of November 7th-8th, and for the first time, both Joey and Gracie were selected as all-stars.
Gracie was selected to play on the U10 Girls “B” team. Bishop sends two all-star teams, an “A” team (generally the bigger, stronger, or faster players), and a “B” team of the talented, but generally smaller players. Gracie played very well, as did the rest of the “B” team players. Her team was: Lauren Simpson, Molly Foster, Sara Stone, Emily Ball, Kori Boxley, Tatiana Sinkinson, Grace Griego, Ivy Mendiburu, and Evelyn Lopez. They lost their first game (against North Lake Tahoe, who fielded their only team, an “A” team, in the “B” division…sigh), then came back to win against Carson Valley 3-1, then lost their last game to Incline 3-1. Gracie did some wonderful dribbling, and passed quite well. I’m biased, of course, but it was nice to hear from the North Lake Tahoe coach that she was a “wonderful” player, and he even told Gracie directly, which she really enjoyed hearing.
Joey’s U14 team has never beaten their rivals, the Mammoth Flames, at Kit Carson. The Bishop U14 boys lost to Mammoth in last year’s championship game in kicks from the mark (Joey didn’t play in U14 last year), so they were hoping for redemption this year. Bishop U14 won all three of their group games, and so advanced to the championship game again this year. Mammoth won all of their group games (they tied South Lake Tahoe, but won on kicks from the mark), and also advanced to the championship, so the big rematch was ON!
The Championship game definitely lived up to the rivalry. Mammoth opened the scoring with a beautiful shot that beat Bishop keeper Chris Gonzales. There followed another full half of beautiful soccer that included one yellow card for a hard challenge on Bishop midfielder Angel Flores, several shots ringing off the post, just over the crossbar, and a fantastic chance for Joey on a great run into the area, and saved by the Mammoth keeper.
It all came down to the final few minutes of regulation time. The last minute heroics were provided by Bishop High freshman Wesley Hart, who made a lightning run from midfield onto a great through ball from Tristan Sinkinson. Wes hit a great left-footer that came across the goal to beat the Mammoth keeper, and equalize at 1-1 in the final minute of regulation time.
The game was then forced into two five-minute overtime periods. The first period went scoreless, despite some frightening attacking play from Mammoth. The second period was equally fierce, with desperate defending from both Bishop and Mammoth. With two minutes to go, Bishop won a free kick about twenty-five yards from goal. Wesley Hart fired a great, arcing free kick to the far post, and Chris Gonzales came blazing in to head it on-frame and score to put Bishop ahead 2-1. The final two minutes were very tense, with Mammoth putting in shots in the Bishop goal area, and Bishop keeper Steven Santana desperately saving several times to keep Bishop ahead. The game ended on a final corner kick from Mammoth. A Mammoth player missed the corner kick, hit it off his shoulder, and Angel Flores cleared it out of the area, as the referee blew the whistle for full time. Bishop U14 boys won the Kit Carson championship for the first time in five years with this dramatic come-from-behind victory, 2-1. Wesley Hart was the player of the match on this day, and all of the boys played tremendously.
Bishop as a town also fared quite well. Bishop U14 boys, Bishop U14 girls, and Bishop U10 girls (Sierra division) all won in their divisions. Bishop U12 girls also made the championship final, but lost 2-1. Bishop U19 coed made the championship final, but lost 3-1 to Mammoth.
Click on any of the photos above to view the entire gallery of photos from the tournament weekend.
Joe Griego, Bishop, CA
