Palo Verde’s win streak ends in 4A girls soccer semifinal loss to Reno — PHOTOS

Palo Verde entered Friday’s state 4A girls soccer semifinal on quite a hot streak, not having lost since Aug. 27.

However, the Panthers’ momentum didn’t last against the Northern Region’ No. 2 seed Reno, which won 4-2 at Spring Valley and advanced to the final. The Huskies will face Sierra Vista at 10 a.m Saturday with the state title on the line.

“It’s disappointing to come up short tonight, but it wasn’t due to a lack of effort,” Palo Verde coach Pedram Mahinpey said. “Some of the little things didn’t go our way tonight, but I just couldn’t be prouder of them.”

Senior forward Caitlynn Nick — a St. Mary’s commit — netted both goals for Palo Verde, the Southern Region’s top seed.

After Huskies junior Sadie Thompson scored the first goal of the game roughly seven minutes in, Nick made her presence felt.

She tied it up in the 24th minute with a long-distance goal that went over the outstretched hands of Reno sophomore goalie Margaret Cliffe.

Thanks to clutch saves by Palo Verde senior goalkeeper Jovie Wikler, the score remained tied going into halftime.

Early in the second half, the Panthers had a couple opportunities to take the lead. But Cliffe swatted away promising shots by Nick and Palo Verde junior forward Olivia Gastwirth.

Cliffe blocked a screaming line drive by Nick 10 minutes into the half. A minute and a half later, Cliffe swatted away Gastwirth’s shot.

In the 15th minute of the second half, Huskies sophomore Mia Concha scored the go-ahead goal.

Reno sophomore Lia Ferretto and senior Violet Gordon both scored, giving the Huskies a late 4-1 lead.

Shortly before stoppage time, Nick scored her second goal of the game on a penalty kick.

Late goal propels Sierra Vista to final

Looking like Sierra Vista’s semifinal matchup with Galena might go to overtime, senior midfielder Sophia Aragon delivered the goal that sent the Mountain Lions to the state championship.

Sierra Vista defeated the Grizzlies 2-1 on the strength of Aragon’s stoppage-time goal.

“I just saw the opportunity,” Aragon said. “Me and my team, we’ve been working really hard for this moment and tomorrow, we’re gonna go to the finals and show what we’ve got.”

The Grizzlies, the No. 1 seed from the Northern Region, struck first midway through the first half. Junior midfielder Paige Canty scored after a ball deflected off the hands of Mountain Lions junior goalie Kennedy Zirkel.

Galena’s offense kept the ball in Sierra Vista territory most of the first half, and the Grizzlies’ defense warded off the few open shots the Mountain Lions found.

Sierra Vista, the Southern Region No. 2 seed, tied it up roughly four minutes into the second half on a goal by sophomore forward Arianna Ruiz, the Mountain Lions’ leading scorer this season.