TheBakersfieldCalifornian.com

They say the third time is a charm, and so it seemed for the No. 9 seeded Golden Valley Bulldogs girls soccer team, which visited top-seeded Ridgeview Pack for the third time this year.

Ridgeview had beaten the Bulldogs twice during the regular season, but a strong second-half performance, with a go-ahead goal from senior Carina Amaya, lifted Golden Valley to a 2-1 Central Section Division III quarterfinal win Friday night.

Amaya left the game late in the closing minutes with an injured left ankle, but despite the pain, she could not hide her excitement.

"It felt really good to get this win," she said, "I was a hard-fought game, but we came out stronger in the second half, and I am proud of our team."

The Bulldogs (11-16) will visit Friday's Porterville-Selma winner in Tuesday's semifinals.

Ridgeview started the contest with a quick attack, and it appeared the Wolf Pack may be on the way to a three-peat against the Bulldogs it took 1-0 lead on a Delfina Sotleo's penalty kick at the 5-minute mark, after Golden Valley was called for a handball inside the penalty area.

Sparked by Sotleo's goal, the Wolf Pack continued to outhustle the Bulldogs, and nearly extended their lead when Callie Fackler's free kick during the 20th minute from 40 yards came to rest atop the net.

Ridgeview (16-3) held onto its one-goal advantage until the 32nd minute, when Sandra Zamora beat a Wolf Pack defender, and drove a hard angle shot off the fingertips of keeper Roohkamal Sidhu for a 1-1 tie.

"I feel so happy, I don't even know what to say," said Zamora, "To tie the game up was a big boost, it really brought us up, and we knew we could play with them and we proved it."

Despite being dominated in the first 45 minutes with Ridgeview's extended periods of possession and attacks, the Bulldogs managed to stay in the game behind four big saves by Samantha Rosales, including back-to-back stops on breakaway chances from Ridgeview's Victoria Pyle.

"I'm very disappointed, but Golden Valley played their hearts out, as did our girls," said Ridgeview coach Jordan Kirkman, "It's just a bummer because we were on top."

"I think they got into our heads a little with the tying goal, and then we failed to stay in it by not finishing our opportunities."

Golden Valley began the second half with renewed determination, a quicker pace and better communication, and it paid off in the 54th minute, when the Bulldogs took the lead on Amaya's floater from 20 yards that just beat the outstretched Sidhu.

While Golden Valley settled into a staunch defensive posture, Ridgeview kept its composure and had several solid chances to regain the lead in the final minutes, including a low, hard shot from Pyle in stoppage time that was turned away by a diving Rosales.

"We got outplayed in the beginning, but I felt the goal they took was a gift," said first-year Golden Valley coach Hector Leonzo. "But nonetheless, it feels good to come to their field and not only take the victory, but be alive and take the Number 1 team out of it."

But Leonzo admitted he and his team were a bit anxious coming into the game.

"Of course, we were a little nervous," he said, "But we told the team to keep their composure, play your game not theirs, and as you can see it paid off."