West Valley shuts out No. 9 Modesto, 2-0, in women's soccer upset

3C2A Women's Soccer: Standings l Scoreboard

SARATOGA -  Two minutes of brilliance and 88 minutes of good enough depicted the West Valley women's soccer team's 2-0 home win on Friday over the previously-unbeaten and 9th-ranked Modest Jr. College Pirates. Melissa Arellano scored her first collegiate goal on a rebound in the 24th minute for a 1-0 Viking lead. A minute later, Amanda Avila drove home a Jaz Quach cross and, in the blink of an eye, West Valley was up 2-0. Avila's team-leading 6th score of 2024 provided the Vikings with a lead they would not relinquish against one of the fastest and highest-scoring offenses in the 3C2A.

The Vikings (4-3-1) were the picture of pinpoint passing - maybe the best of the season - in the opening half. In the second half, the physical Pirates (8-1-0) took the initiative on offense but could not solve Viking netminder Nevaeh Reyes and WVC's bend-but-don't-break defense. West Valley had trio of scoring changes late in the game, but with the two-goal advantage, they were content to control the midfield. Reyes had three saves to record her fourth win and third clean sheet of the year.

West Valley welcomes another Big 8 foe, Diablo Valley (3-2-2), to Dick Schwendinger Field Tuesday (9/24). The "Battle of the Vikings" kicks off at 4:00pm.

(Matt Folsom, West Valley Athletics)