Prep girls’ soccer: Trojans’ core 4 help bring NorCal championship to Oak Ridge

Having allowed just five goals all season, the Oak Ridge girls’ soccer team hasn’t exactly been accustomed to playing from behind.

But with 20 minutes to play in a do-or-die Northern California championship game, a 2-0 deficit stood between the top-seeded Trojans and school history. Oak Ridge coach Rino Chimienti turned to his core group of seniors, who grew up in the program with him since he first stepped on campus four years ago.

One of those seniors, Emily Lieber, said a mutual trust between players and coach was what helped overcome the adversity.

“We are a team that does not roll over and die,” Lieber said. “We knew if we kept going, our hard work would pay off.”

With the help of it’s core four, fourth-year varsity seniors Lieber, Olivia Chimienti, Grace Goins and Iman Mustafa, Oak Ridge stormed back to tie the score at two. The Trojans then withstood 15 minutes of sudden-death overtime and beat third-seeded Buchanan of Clovis in a 4-2 penalty kick shootout to win the Division I championship Saturday night in El Dorado Hills.

After winning its fourth Sac-Joaquin Section championship last week – and second straight – Oak Ridge now owns its first NorCal crown in program history after an unblemished 16-0-3 campaign.

“These girls had three goals,” Rino Chimienti said. “The first was to win the SFL, the second was to win sections and the third was to win regionals. And to do all three for the seniors, who came in as freshmen when I started coaching, there’s no better feeling.”

Buchanan, playing in the NorCal regionals after years of traditionally competing in the Southern California region, took it to the Trojans early. Fresno State-bound Ciara Wilson paired goals in the 35th minute of the first half and three minutes into the second half to give the Bears a 2-0 cushion before the Trojans began capitalizing on their adjustments.

Chimienti shifted Goins from center back to midfield, a move he said changed the game.

“I had to take a chance,” he said. “(Goins) allowed us to get numbers forward and kept winning the ball as they came back. She brought it back down and we kept playing in the final third and obviously created chances in getting some opportunities and scoring.”

The coach’s daughter, Olivia Chimienti, placed a perfect corner kick to Lieber, who headed in Oak Ridge’s first goal at the 22-minute mark of the second half.

“It was really hard to see a light at the end of the tunnel when you’re down 2-0 in the championship game,” Lieber said. “But the minute that it hit off my head and went into the corner of the goal, I was like, ‘OK, now it’s game time. Now we turn up the heat.’ ”

A Buchanan foul in the 73rd minute set up a penalty kick for Mustafa, who calmly delivered the game-tying goal and forced overtime. After 15 minutes of intense sudden-death play, the game went into penalty kicks to decide the championship.

“There’s a lot of things going on, a lot of nervousness, anxiety, mostly excitement,” said Oak Ridge junior goalie Kate Plachy. “I like taking PKs, which is kinda crazy, but I don’t mind them. I know my skill set, and I knew if I just went out and did my thing, it would work out.”

The Bears snuck goals from Wilson and Logan Nidy past Plachy, while goals from Goins, Samantha Torres and Sophia Moness gave the Trojans a 3-2 edge. Plachy made a diving stop against Buchanan’s fourth kicker to give Lieber a chance to win the game.

When Lieber’s shot rang true, the Trojans’ sideline erupted with cheers and tears of joy as the Oak Ridge team mobbed one another to the tune of Queen’s “We Are the Champions.”

“Just pure grit and fight from these girls,” Plachy said. “I’m so proud of them. I’m not surprised. This is what we do, and that’s how we play Oak Ridge women’s soccer.”

Lieber poignantly expressed gratitude for her teammates, soaking in the moment to share the championship with the group with whom she began her Oak Ridge journey.

“It’s like poetry. It couldn’t have worked out better,” Lieber said. “Even if we hadn’t won, it still would have been the most perfect high school career because I love these girls like my family. To be able to win with them and share this with them, it means the world, and I’ll look back on this the rest of my life.”

Buchanan (20-3-1), a 12-time Central Section champion, beat Sierra Foothill League member Whitney in the NorCal opener. The Bears feature seven Division I college commits, including two who will be collegiate teammates with graduating Oak Ridge players. Goins and Nidy will play together at San Diego State and Torres and Buchanan’s Rylie Chaney will join the Chico State program.

But for now, the Trojans will celebrate this win along with a perfect season.

“Getting No. 1 in NorCals is amazing, but not losing feels even better,” Plachy said. “It means we worked for it.”