It was once said of Hank Aaron that trying to hurl a fastball past the Hall of Fame slugger was like “trying to sneak a sunrise past a rooster.”

Something similar could be said of trying to get a soccer ball past Isa Berardo.

As starting goalkeeper for the Pomona-Pitzer women’s soccer team, the Santa Cruz native had surrendered just one goal in six matches entering Wednesday’s contest against Whittier College. Berardo’s 18 saves were a major reason why Pomona-Pitzer (6-0-1) was unbeaten going into that contest: The Sagehens’ only non-victory was a scoreless tie against the Massachusetts Institute of Technology on Sept. 1, in which Berardo stopped a season-high seven shots on goal.

Goalie Isa Berardo, a Santa Cruz native, has shined for Pomona-Pitzer's women's soccer team. (Pomona-Pitzer Athletics - Contributed)

Goalie Isa Berardo, a Santa Cruz native, has shined for Pomona-Pitzer's women's soccer team. (Pomona-Pitzer Athletics - Contributed)

Goalie Isa Berardo, a Santa Cruz native, advances the ball for Pomona-Pitzer's women's soccer team. (Pomona-Pitzer Athletics - Contributed)



Goalie Isa Berardo, a Santa Cruz native, makes a stop for Pomona-Pitzer's women's soccer team. (Pomona-Pitzer Athletics - Contributed)

Berardo’s latest shutouts helped Pomona-Pitzer get off to a 2-0 start in Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play. The senior made six saves in Pomona-Pitzer’s 1-0 win at Chapman University on Saturday and one in the Sagehens’ 4-0 home victory over the University of La Verne last Thursday.

While Sagehens defenders deserve a fair amount of credit for limiting opponents’ scoring chances – Berardo has only had to make more than three saves twice this season – the goalie’s value as Pomona-Pitzer’s last line of defense cannot be overstated: Last season the Saratoga High graduate led NCAA Division III in both save percentage (.944) and goals-against average (0.18).

Berardo has posted 16 career shutouts.

Football

Ashtyn Davis (Santa Cruz High), Cal, Redshirt Sr.: The cornerback had seven tackles – four solo, three assisted – and broke up a pass Saturday, helping the 15th-ranked Golden Bears improve to 4-0 with a 28-20 road win at Ole Miss. He also had a 17-yard kickoff return on special teams.

Marcos Reyes (Aptos), Chapman Univ., Fr.: The running back rushed for 68 yards on 10 carries Saturday night in the Panthers’ 37-30 victory over visiting Whitworth. Reyes generated most of his yardage on a 55-yard run in the third quarter.

Scott Poetzinger (San Lorenzo Valley), Puget Sound (Wash.), Jr.: The defensive back had three tackles – two solo, one assisted – on Saturday in the Loggers’ 28-24 home win over the University of Laverne.

Lucas Olgiati (Monte Vista Christian), Azusa Pacific, Jr.: The linebacker made two tackles Saturday night in the Cougars’ 42-36 home loss to Western Oregon.

Scott Tinsley (MVC), Azusa Pacific, Fr.: The defensive back made his first collegiate tackle in the Cougars’ loss to Western Oregon.

Mark Carling (SLV), Pomona-Pitzer, So.: The halfback had two catches for six yards Saturday night in the Sagehens’ 26-15 road loss to George Fox University in Newberg, Ore.

Jonathan Garcia (Watsonville), Tabor College (Kan.), Jr.: The defensive lineman, formerly of Cabrillo College, assisted on one tackle in the Bluejays’ 14-7 loss to host Friends University on Saturday.

Women’s volleyball

Lauren Matias (Harbor), UC Davis, Sr.: The outside hitter had a team-high 18 kills and was second on the Aggies with 13 digs Tuesday night as UCD started Big West Conference play with a five-set win over visiting UC Irvine.

Matias also led UC Davis with 42 kills at Cal State Bakersfield’s Roadrunner Classic last weekend. She had 21 of those, including the match-clincher, in UCD’s final match of the tournament, a three-set win over the University of San Francisco.

Matias had double-digit dig totals in two Roadrunner Classic matches, garnering 10 apiece against USF and Cal State Bakersfield on Saturday.

Camryn Rocha (Soquel), Nevada-Reno, Sr.: The outside hitter had four kills and four digs on Friday in the Wolf Pack’s five-set victory over Southern Utah at the Nevada Invitational.

Marianne Soria (MVC), Simpson University., Sr.: The defensive specialist recorded a team-high 18 digs on Friday as the Red Hawks opened California Pacific Conference play with a four-set home victory over Providence Christian College. She had 14 digs on Saturday in Simpson’s three-set home loss to the University of Antelope Valley.

Alysha Crowther (Santa Cruz), Allegheny (Pa.), Sr.: The middle hitter recorded a team-high seven kills and four digs on Saturday in the Gators’ three-set home loss to the University of Pittsburgh-Greensburg. She also had six kills and two digs in Allegheny’s three-set road loss to Penn State Behrend last Thursday.

Men’s water polo

Max Somple (Soquel), Sr., UC Davis: The attacker recorded four goals – three in the second half – on Friday, helping the No. 7 Aggies beat No. 19 Cal Baptist 13-6 in the teams’ opening match of UC Davis’ Aggie Roundup.

After being held scoreless by top-ranked Stanford in UCD’s 16-8 loss on Saturday, Somple managed one goal apiece on Sunday in the Aggies’ 14-10 loss to No. 8 Cal and 16-4 win over Ottawa University of Arizona. He now ranks second among UC Davis players with 14 goals on the season.

Men’s soccer

Anthony Orendain (Watsonville), Pacific (Stockton), Sr.: The defender attempted a team-high three shots, including one on goal, in Pacific’s 2-0 win over visiting UC Davis last Thursday.

Walmer Martinez (Soquel), Cal State Monterey Bay, Sr.: The forward, a Cabrillo College alumnus, assisted on two goals Friday night in the Otters’ 7-2 win over visiting UC Santa Cruz.

Adrian Rebollar (Watsonville), Cal State Monterey Bay, Jr.: The midfielder assisted on two goals in CSUMB’s win over UC Santa Cruz.

Blake Kuehl (SLV), Univ. of St. Mary (Kansas), So.: The goalkeeper made two saves but surrendered a second-half goal before being pulled last Thursday in the Spires’ 2-1, double-overtime home loss to Randall University.

Women’s soccer

Syerra Montes (MVC), Holy Names, So.: The goalkeeper made 10 saves on Sunday in the Hawks’ 2-1 loss to visiting Southwestern Oklahoma State.

Phoebe Rapoza (Scotts Valley), San Jose State, Fr.: The defender had a shot on goal Friday night in the Spartans’ 2-1 home loss to the University of Portland.

Monserrat Hernandez Marquez (Aptos), Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo, So.: The midfielder attempted two shots, including one on goal, on Sunday in the Mustangs’ 4-2 loss to host Cal Baptist.

Men’s cross country

Hugh Chomentowski (Santa Cruz), Humboldt State, Redshirt Fr.: The first-year runner placed 81st at Western Oregon University’s Sundowner Invitational on Friday in Monmouth, Ore. Chomentowski crossed the finish line for the 8,000-meter race in 27:38.8.

Jake Gill (Santa Cruz), Claremont-Mudd-Scripps, So.: He placed 82nd at Cal State San Bernardino’s Coyote Challenge on Saturtday, clocking in at 27:02.49 for 8,000 meters.

County Connections

County Connections appears Thursdays in the Sentinel. Contact sports@santacruzsentinel.com if you know of a former Santa Cruz County prep athlete now playing at the collegiate level.