Wildcats have no problem in regional soccer playoffs, 10-0

Paloma Valley's Miale Jones (6) puts a header past the Mater Dei Catholic goalkeeper during Tuesday's 10-0 win. Photos by Doug Sp...

Paloma Valley's Miale Jones (6) puts a header past the Mater Dei Catholic goalkeeper during Tuesday's 10-0 win.
Photos by Doug Spoon

Having survived the pressure cooker of the CIF Southern Section girls soccer championship game last Saturday, the Paloma Valley Wildcats' victory in the Southern California Regionals on Tuesday must've felt more like a warm bath.

Just three days after outlasting Ventura High 1-0 in the CIF-SS Division 4 finals, the Wildcats breezed through a 10-0 win over Mater Dei Catholic of Chula Vista. The SoCal Regionals pits the best of the CIF Southern Section against top teams from the San Diego and L.A. City Sections. At least in this case, the game was anti-climactic after the intensity of the CIF-SS championship victory.

Nicole Dallin (23, left) scored a natural hat trick with three consecutive goals in the opening minutes, the Wildcats led 4-0 just 15 minutes into the game, and the contest was basically over at that point. Paloma Valley kept the ball in the Mater Dei zone for most of the game and set up relatively easy shots throughout. Improving their season record to 25-0-3 and recording their 15th consecutive shutout, the Wildcats advanced to the Regional semifinal Thursday at 4 p.m. at Paloma Valley against Westminster.

"After the game we played Saturday, they were mentally and physically tired," Paloma Valley coach Carlos Alfaro said about his players. "It took a lot out of them. I thought Mater Dei would give us a better game today, but I'll take it however I can get it. Some of the younger girls got a chance to shine and we got to rest some people, so that's a good thing."

The Wildcats scored less than a minute into the game on a blast from the right side by Payton Whitcomb. Shortly thereafter, forward Alyssa Moore left the game after re-injuring the leg that has kept her out for most of the season. Then midway through the half, starting goalkeeper Paulina Pimentel suffered a gash above her right eye in a collision with a teammate while making a save. She was replaced by Peyton Broccardo-Rehak.

"Her eye was really swollen; she needed stitches on her eyebrow," Alfaro said about Pimentel. "She complained she was a little light-headed. She collided with her own player, but she made the save."

By the time Pimentel left the game, Nicole Dallin had scored three times -- twice on shots from the right side and once from right in front of the Mater Dei goalkeeper. Dallin now has 54 goals on the season.

"We're focused on winning state, and I think we can do it," Dallin said. "But I think our main focus is just working on our play and switching the ball across the field."

"Nikki's good at stuff like that," Alfaro said. "She had a little bit of a drought the last couple games, but when she comes around, you know it."

Miale Jones added to the rout with two goals, including a header off a corner kick for a 6-0 lead early in the second half. Mackenzie Ott, called up to varsity for the playoffs, also had two goals. Correyn Barackman and Ashley Brokaw each scored one.

"The younger players really did well," Alfaro said. "They were really knocking the ball around. They were pushing the ball upfield. It was their time to shine and show the coach what they can do. They're itching to play, so whenever I can get them in there, I will."

Remarkably, the Wildcats haven't been scored upon since Jan. 5.

"The girls don't talk about it," Alfaro said about the shutout streak. "These girls are very humble. When we won league, I let them celebrate a little bit. I told them, 'When you win CIF, you're the big dogs.' Then they did that. So like I told them today, 'You guys are CIF champs. You don't have to be nervous about anything. You just go out there and have fun.'"

Cassidy Spiro (3) battles a Mater Dei Catholic opponent for the ball during Tuesday's game. 

Nicole Dallin (23, right) punches the ball past a diving Mater Dei Catholic goalkeeper for one of her three goals on Tuesday.

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  1. What an incredible season Wildcats!!! Too good to end!!...so keep it up and show Ventura how u girls really play !!!go get them again Saturday!!!😁🙌🙏☝️👍⚽🥅

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