GUNN VARSITY GIRLS ARE EL CAMINO LEAGUE CHAMPIONS!

The Titans gave their seniors a night to remember by defeating Santa Clara 4-1 and claiming the El Camino League title.

An emotional and stirring pregame ceremony honoring the 12 Gunn seniors and the knowledge that a victory would seal the El Camino title with an invitation to the CCS playoffs primed the Titans to a dream start, a 2-0 lead in only 3 minutes of play. Kelly McKenna, one of the seniors, scored the first goal in the first minute of play, chipping the ball from the right side over the keeper’s reach and into the net. Another senior, Eleanor Greely, struck quickly just two minutes later in the third minute with a skilled run into the box and low shot from 12 yards out. But Santa Clara showed much tenacity and quickly countered in the 7th minute with a 15 yard chip of their own from the left side to close within a goal.

The lightning start to the game gave way to a more controlled match. A constant rain didn’t faze Gunn as they persevered with short and medium passes to maintain possession for much of the half. The buildup led to Gunn’s third goal in the 19th minute, as Erin Robinson received a pass from Greely just outside the left side of the box and unleashed a bullet into the far right side of the net for a 3-1 lead.

In the second half, Gunn pressed play in Santa Clara’s half of the field and the defense snuffed out all threats on goal. The final cap on the night was provided in the 72nd minute by senior Taylor Gardiner who took the ball into the box from the right side and unleashed a shot away from the keeper that caromed off the left post and into the net. Fittingly, an all-senior Gunn lineup played the last minutes of the game and to the final whistle when the El Camino title was assured.

Gunn (9-0-2 league, 11-5-3 overall) will have a chance to complete an undefeated league season when they play their final league game at Fremont Wednesday 2/11 at 5:00.