

SECOND HALF SURGE BOOSTS SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES U-16/17 TO QUARTERFINALS WITH 4-1 VICTORY OVER BOSTON BREAKERS ACADEMY



OCEANSIDE, Calif. (June 28, 2018)- The San Jose Earthquakes needed just a draw to advance in the inaugural U-16/17 Girls' Academy Playoffs. After falling behind early, an equalizer in first half stoppage time gave the Quakes early momentum. They capitalized on it in the second half, netting three goals to secure passage to the quarterfinals. Some savvy passing in the midfield opened things up for the San Jose attack down the stretch, and a brace from Camille Lafaix iced the game for the Northwest Division squad.

The early-going played out as a chess match while both teams felt each other out. While they brought two of the regular season's most-electric offenses to Oceanside, neither side was able to push numbers into the final third. Things began to warm-up midway through the half, as San Jose put together some solid build-up and Boston earned a set of two dangerous corner kicks.

In the 29th minute, the Northeast Division's top finishers found the opening goal. San Jose won the ball near midfield after a Boston goal kick, but when the Quakes mishit a pass while attempting to play back, the Breakers' Jaydah Bedoya pounced on the mistake. When the Earthquakes 'keeper came out to stop the danger, Bedoya took a touch around her and slotted it home to give the Breakers the lead.

The goal opened things up for both sides and San Jose found an equalizer just before the half. As the referee indicated one minute of first half stoppage time, Emily Berg found Mia Fontana on the left wing. The forward wheeled upfield and around, beating five defenders on the run, before threading a pass past another closing Breakers defender. The ball rolled into the box to the feet of Abby Borchers. She took a touch and drove it to the top near corner to knot things up just before the half.

The late goal swung the momentum to the Quakes, and the Northwest squad took control in the second half. After a few more threatening opportunities for Borchers and Lafaix, including a deflection off of the inside of the post, San Jose's possession-based attack started to shine. On the run up the right side, Concacaf U-17 Women's Champion Sophia Jones slipped between two defenders and left a ball off for Borchers near the end line. The 'keeper deflected it into the air, but couldn't control it. When the ball bounced out to Isabella Mahoney, her one-touch rippled the back of the net to give the Quakes the lead.

Jones wasn't done creating chances for the Quakes. A give-and-go in the 77th minute found her on the run up the middle, and she slyly dished to Lafaix as the forward crashed towards the net. She hit it to the far post to boost the San Jose lead to 3-1. Just two minutes later, another Jones run up the center channel resulted in another goal. She slid a pass up to Borchers at the top of the Boston final third and the forward slotted a ball to Lafaix on the run towards goal. She outran a defender and took a touch around the 'keeper before netting her second goal of the day.