WINDSOR — It was easy to believe that Tuesday night’s battle for supremacy in the Class 4A Tri-Valley League was going to be riddled with offensive fireworks.
Northridge entered the match with an unblemished record and, like the host Windsor Wizards, was averaging more than five goals a game. Windsor had been particularly prolific of late, outscoring its opponents 36-0 in its six games since Northridge handed the Wizards their only loss of the season.
So, naturally, it was a fortuitous bounce and a penalty kick that made the difference.
No. 4-ranked Windsor exacted revenge for its earlier defeat against the Grizzlies and created a tie atop the conference with a 2-0 victory. Senior Garrett Winner was the beneficiary of the unexpected bounce that put Windsor ahead late in the first half, and Brandon Lind added the penalty kick early in the second half to pace the Wizards (11-1, 8-1).
“The boys had been very eager for this game,” Windsor coach Phil Weiser said. “The first time we played them, it was a hard-fought game at their place. My boys were very much looking forward to getting them at our place.”
Winner’s game-winner occurred with 6:07 remaining in the half. After attempting to deliver a lead pass through the penalty box, the ball was deflected by a Northridge defender back to the feet of Winner, who fired a left-footed shot almost as an afterthought. Grizzlies goalkeeper Josh Croft appeared to smother the ball only to have it trickle away and roll into the net.
Lind was rewarded with his penalty kick after Northridge’s Jeremy Hewitt took down the Wizards’ Kyle Gonzales along the right side of the penalty box.
The Grizzlies (11-1, 9-1) were playing their second tough match in as many days after defeating a solid Thompson Valley club Monday.
“Two games, two nights. . . . Yeah, most definitely that was a factor,” Northridge coach Steve Brubacher said. “But you can’t take anything away from Windsor. They played a great game.”
Northridge 0 0 — 0
Windsor 1 1 — 2
Goals — Winner, W, 34th minute; Lind, W, (PK), 47th.
Shots on goal — Northridge 2-4 — 6; Windsor 4-3 — 7. Saves — Northridge (Croft) 3-2 — 5; Windsor (Weinmeister) 2-4 — 6. Corner kicks — Northridge 1-1 — 2; Windsor 1-0 — 1. Fouls — Northridge 5-3 — 8; Windsor 2-4 — 6. Offsides — Northridge 1-0 — 1; Windsor 0-1 — 1.
