Sami Donovan Bella Vista-Fair Oaks – Soccer

The junior midfielder scored the Broncos’ first goal in the Sac-Joaquin Section Division II Championship match in which Bella Vista defeated Ponderosa 2-1. The victory gave the Broncos (18-1-4) their first section title since the program won three consecutive Division I titles from 1986-88. Donovan’s goal in the championship game came in the first half and gave the Broncos a 1-0 lead. Her best offensive game of the season came when she scored three of her nine goals in a 3-0 victory over Del Campo on April 9.

The junior midfielder scored the Broncos’ first goal in the Sac-Joaquin Section Division II Championship match in which Bella Vista defeated Ponderosa 2-1. The victory gave the Broncos (18-1-4) their first section title since the program won three consecutive Division I titles from 1986-88. Donovan’s goal in the championship game came in the first half and gave the Broncos a 1-0 lead. Her best offensive game of the season came when she scored three of her nine goals in a 3-0 victory over Del Campo on April 9.

SportStars Magazine: What was special about winning the program’s first section title since 1988?

Sami Donovan: We have had this curse of losing in the section semifinals. It was great to end the curse. Losing in the semis the last few years made this mean so much more. Plus, we had all of the boys’ team her cheering us on like we did when they won section, so it was awesome.

SSM: What was the key to scoring the goal in the championship game?

SD: Our defender cleared the ball to the left corner and I was able to make an inside run. Lisa (Elledge) got me the ball near the top of the box and I took one touch and remembered what (assistant coach) Matt Contreras says is the only equation in soccer, that “far post = goal.”

SSM: With a relatively young team and the curse lifted, do you expect to challenge for another section title next year?

SD: We only had three or four seniors, so we definitely hope to get back here. The curse has been killing us, but now that is over.

HONORABLE MENTION

Matthew Stafford —The Pleasant Grove junior tossed a four-hit complete game in the Eagles’ 6-3 victory over No. 1 seed Davis in a Div. I baseball semifinal. Stafford improved to 8-1 this season with a 2.77 ERA.

Ali Aguilar — The Casa Roble senior homered in the first inning and scored the winning run in the bottom of the seventh in the Rams’ 7-6 victory over Vanden-Fairfield in a Div. II softball semifinal..

Jake Sola — The Lincoln junior pitched a complete game shutout in a 1-0 win over Rio Americano in a Div. III playoff opener, and belted a home run in the team’s 4-1 victory over Yuba City in the first game of their semifinal series.