LVS Alumni Game 1.3.15

Merry Christmas from LVS: Website eclipses 100K on Christmas Day

Merry Christmas from the Nolan Catholic Women's Soccer Program.  We hope the New Year brings you JOY & PEACE and SOCCER!  The Lady Vikings website received its 100,000th view on Christmas Day.  Thank you Santa, thank you LVSers and thank you to all who support our program.

The Lady Vikings will be back in action on Saturday, January 3rd as they take on LVSers from the past in their Annual Alumni Game at 11:00am at Doskcocil Stadium and then district continues on Monday, January 5th as the varsity hosts Parish at 3:00pm.

LVS15 Christmas Video

The Lady Vikings get in front of the camera tomorrow for their annual Christmas Video Shoot.  It is part of their 0 Period Final Exam.  

"We are already more then halfway through district play, the holidays are here, and it is time to see some off the field personality," said LVS head coach, Jay Fitzgerald.

See last years LVS14 Christmas Video... CLICK HERE

It is a wonderful time of the year and these young ladies get an opportunity to spend a part of the holiday with their #lvsFamily.

What does Christmas mean to you?  How do you spend it?

We want to know.

The Lady Vikings will shoot their Christmas Video tomorrow morning and then that night get dressed up and join together for their Annual Christmas Party.  This year the team will do their regular gift exchange but the rules will be a bit different this time... stay tuned.

It will be an evening of TEAM FUN LOVE FAMILY.

The program will be delivering toys to GRACE Christmas Cottage this year.  On Friday, they will load the LVS Sleigh with toys, the LVS Elves will jump on board and will head to delivery Christmas joy to kids.

Fitzgerald mentioned, "There is nothing better then making a kid smile and our players do such a good job at that.  Community is very important to us."

The LVS15 Christmas Video will premier on Christmas night.

LVS cruises to win over John Paul II

The varsity picked up where the JV left up the night before, improving to 7-2-0 with a 5-0 shutout over John Paul II.  The scoring started early and continued throughout the entire first half.

Jordan Gamboa took an errant pass from the Lady Cardinal goalkeeper to get the Lady Vikings on the board in just the 3rd minute of play.

The Lady Vikings were relentless going forward tonight getting numbers forward and creating chances from all over the field.

Sophomore, Emily Keoughan started at outside back and moved up top and with her first touch on the ball ran onto a quality ball over the top from Gabbie Puente and touched it over the oncoming John Paul goalkeeper for a 2-0 Lady Viking lead.

Keoughan adds to her goal total, now at 7.  Gamboa added 2 more in just the first half to complete her hat trick scoring goals 6, 7, and 8 on the year.

Gwennie Puente was not ending the half without a goal and with 42 seconds left in the half she scored her 9th goal of the season.

"This was a complete game, we scored from just about every area on the field and we defended very well," commented LVS head coach, Jay Fitzgerald.

The Lady Vikings complete 2014 with a win returning on January 5th to host Parish and then they compete in their own showcase, the National Elite Prep Showcase (formerly the Nolan Showcase) on January 8th.

#lvsGameDay; LVS loves #SGP

Hey Lady Vikings fans, the JV defeated John Paul II last night 3-1 to improve to 3-2 in district play and 5-3-0 overall.  Goals were scored by Mikaela Gamboa, Emma Hernandez, and Rachel Emrich.

The varsity starts the second half of district play TONIGHT against John Paul II as well in a varsity double header with the men who follow against Bishop Dunne.

John Paul end of week; NEPS

The Lady Vikings take their 6-2-0 record into this final week of the semester and end 2014 with a home match against John Paul II on Thursday night at 5:30pm.  The 5-3-0 JV hosts John Paul II on Wednesday night at 5:30pm.

Already half way through the district season, the Lady Vikings enjoy a 1-game week before heading into finals and the Christmas Break.

In the past, Nolan Catholic has travelled west during the Christmas Break to the Tri-Valley Classic in San Francisco, CA to take on the powers in California and Arizona.

"We just haven't been able to make it work the last 3 years, but the benefits of the event helped us start quality relationships with top powerhouse programs all across the country and the National Elite Prep Showcase (former Nolan Showcase) was born," mentioned LVS head coach Jay Fitzgerald.

This year the showcase features the #1 team in the country, Cathedral Catholic which is stacked with players from the Surf Soccer Club out of San Diego.  Other out of state teams coming in this year are Santa Margarita, El Camino Real, Liberty, Steele Canyon - all from California along with American Heritage Plantation from Florida and Madison Central from Mississippi.

Thirty-eight teams complete the NEPS field and it is impressive.  CLICK HERE for more information about this national showcase.

Special Moments to #WWC Qualifying

The countdown has now well and truly begun. The final few berths for the FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015™ have now been filled, and the world finally learns which teams will be pitted against each other in the group stage.  To mark this occasion, FIFA.com brings you the ten greatest moments on the road to Canada.

Nadeshiko break continental curse

In Asia, the reigning world champions sent out a clear signal by winning the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2014. As incredible as it may seem, Japan had never before lifted their continental trophy in 13 previous attempts, but the Nadeshiko finally put that right by defeating Australia in this year’s final.

Youth prospers

Age offers no protection from folly, as William Shakespeare knew well. If you amend this saying to suit Vivianne Miedema, it might then read: “…nor does youth offer protection from the desire to score”. Her name is closely associated with the Netherlands’ recent success. At just 18, the forward not only scored all of the Oranje Leeuwinnen’s three goals in the play-off final against Italy but also topped the goalscoring list with 16 strikes.

It's only over when the whistle blows

With 30 minutes played, Ecuador already trailed Argentina 2-0 at the Copa America Femenina and had seemingly blown their chance of reaching the World Cup finals. But anyone who thought the match was done and dusted did not envisage the impact Carina Caicedo, Ingrid Rodriguez and Giannina Lattanzio would have on proceedings. Thanks to their goals, La Tricolor fought their way back into the game, ultimately winning 3-2 to secure third place. Their subsequent intercontinental play-off against fourth-placed CONCACAF side Trinidad and Tobago was similarly action-packed but was only resolved in the dying seconds of the second leg, when Monica Quinteros scored in stoppage time to spark Ecuadorian celebrations.

Welcome!

Fans awaiting next year’s tournament will not only be eager to see 24 teams contest the title but also to welcome several competition debutants. Ecuador, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Spain, Costa Rica, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire and Thailand all successfully navigated qualifying to reach football’s biggest stage for the first time.

Exciting duels

While Europe’s favourites quickly wrapped up group wins in their qualifying campaigns, other sections witnessed some fascinating duels. In Group 2, Spain and Italy were locked in a head-to-head race from which La Roja emerged victorious. Spain prevailed in an encounter between the pair to finish the qualifying phase with three extra points. It was a similar story between Norway and the Netherlands in Group 5, with the sides ultimately separated by just two points.

300 and counting

US international Christie Rampone won her 300th international cap in the semi-final of the CONCACAF Championship against Mexico, making her only the second player to reach this landmark after compatriot and former team-mate Kristine Lilly. The three-time Olympic champion shows no sign of hanging up her boots, and next summer’s showpiece in Canada will be her fifth appearance at women football’s premier event.

The joy of extra time

It is one of the most wonderful feelings in the game: to score the winner in stoppage time after defeat seemed certain and spirits had been crushed. Mexico’s coach and fans must have endured something similar recently after El Tri were forced into a long and nervous wait for their World Cup ticket. The Mexicans began their CONCACAF Championship campaign with a defeat and had to fight it out with Trinidad and Tobago for the last direct qualifying place after being beaten by the Stars and Stripes in the semi-final. Although the match was delicately poised, defeat still seemed likely in the 78th minute. But the Mexicans netted an equaliser before an extra-time brace from Veronica Charlyn Corral secured victory for Mexico.

The final hurdle

Côte d’Ivoire went into their third-place play-off against South Africa knowing they needed a win to qualify – a feat they duly achieved. Although their opponents generally dominated the encounter, they could not find the target, paving the way for Ida Guehai to score the winner for the West African side five minutes from time.

Perfect tens

Germany, France, England and Sweden all secured their place in Canada in style. Each team posted ten wins from ten qualifying games, scoring a mammoth 200 goals between them while conceding only nine.

What's 'conceding'?

While the four sides listed above only occasionally let their guard down, New Zealand’s goalkeeper never once had to pick the ball out of the net during the Oceanic qualifying tournament. The Football Ferns last conceded a goal in 2007, against Tonga, during qualification for that year's FIFA Women’s World Cup.

LVS ousted on Ursuline Home Opener

On Wednesday night, Ursuline Academy played their first ever official home soccer match and Nolan Catholic did not get to join in the celebration as they were outlasted 5-1.  Gabbie Puente scored the Lady Vikings only goal of the night off a corner from Megan Bettinger.

"It hurt to get punched in the mouth tonight," said LVS head coach, Jay Fitzgerald.

The Lady Vikings had an chance early to get on the board but on Ursulines first 2 shots, they built a 2-0 lead just 12 minutes into the match.

Fitzgerald continued, "they struck first and didn't stop even after we got the game back, they struck again before the half and 4-1 is so much different then 3-1 going into halftime."

Five minutes into the second half, Jordan Gamboa found a good spot and just couldn't convert off a nicely timed pass from Gwennie Puente to trim the Bears lead to two.

"It was their night tonight," Fitzgerald commented who hit a milestone of his own, coaching his 400th game as the head coach for the Nolan Catholic Women's Soccer Program.

Fitzgerald on his 400th game...
"We have a special group of young ladies and it is a privilege to coach them.  The Lady Vikings Family means a lot to me... good times, good people."

The JV played first on the evening and Tatiana Rosario only managed to score 1 goal but Ursuline had 1 more and the JV dropped to 3-2 on the year with the 2-1 loss to the Lady Bears.


Next week the Lady Vikings have a bye on Monday and will return home on Thursday to begin the second half of the district season as they host John Paul II.

TCA win, on to Ursuline

The JV and Varsity soccer teams outscored TCA at home on Monday night by a score of 15-1.  Six Lady Vikings scored multiple goals on the night.  Tatiana Rosario and Mikaela Gamboa each scored a pair of goals for the JV as Selena Guzman scored her first of the year in route to a 5-0 district win and a 3-1 record.

It was then time for the varsity to get a shot at the Lady Trojans.  The Norsemen were on hand and that is always good news for the Lady Vikings.  The Lady Vikings are 4-1-0 when the Norsemen are present.

Gwennie Puente, Marissa Baldasti, and Emily Keoughan all scored 2 goals on the night.  Hats off to Jordan Gamboa as she completed the hat trick in the first half of play while freshman, Paige Rotto scored her first high school goal.

The Lady Vikings doubled the JV's goal output with a 10-1 win, improving to 6-1 on the season.

Head coach, Jay Fitzgerald commented after the match, "we were very good tonight, the movement was outstanding."  Fitzgerald couldn't be more impressed coming out of the Thanksgiving break.

"You never know what you are going to get after breaks.  We had a week off and we looked fresh.  We set the tone from the beginning", Fitzgerald added.

The Lady Vikings play again tomorrow night on a short turn around as they travel to Ursuline on what marks the first home match in the history of the Lady Bear program.

The JV kick the night off at 5:00pm and the varsity follow at 6:30pm.

District continues with home and away; JV at All Saints Shootout

The Lady Vikings return to the field tonight hosting Trinity Christian as they continue district play.  The 2-1 JV kicks the night off at 5:30pm and the varsity follow at 7:00pm.  The varsity is coming off a 3-2 heartbreaking loss to Bishop Lynch a couple weeks ago while the JV owned a 2-0 shutout win over the Lady Friars to even their district mark at 1-1.

The JV and Varsity will hit the road again on Wednesday night taking on Ursuline at 5:00pm and 6:30pm at Ursuline's new, on campus soccer/field hockey facility.  That game was moved from Thursday night due to the NCAA Women's Soccer Division I Final Four being held in Boca Raton, FL.  Most of the players will be traveling east to take part in the college showcase event that is held in conjunction with the Final Four.  Virginia will take on Texas A&M in the first semi-final on Friday and Stanford and Florida State will go at each other in the second semi-final.  Both matches will be LIVE on ESPNU at 4:00pm and 6:30pm CST.

On Friday, the JV will compete in the All Saints Shootout at All Saints Episcopal in west Fort Worth. Their first game is at 5:45pm against John Cooper from Houston at the football stadium.

On Saturday the JV will play a double header on the day, taking on Trinity Valley at 9:30am and their third match will be at 3:00pm.  They will be in the football stadium for their first Saturday match and then at the soccer stadium for their next match.