ELK GROVE, CA (MPG) - Fog had started to settle on the field when the Pleasant Grove Eagles girls’ soccer team visited the Laguna Creek Cardinals. The Eagles had come into this game rolling on a four-game win streak where they did not allow the other team to score, and they were looking to keep their momentum going. The Eagles have an overall record of 10-4-2 while being 7-0 in league, ranking them No. 1 in the Delta League.         

The Cardinals were sitting right behind the Eagles with a 9-4-1 overall record and 4-2 in league, ranked No. 2. They are coming off a loss to Franklin 3-0 that snapped their five-game win streak.

Laguna Creek was looking to get back into the win column against the top-ranked Eagles, and to avenge a 3-0 loss when these teams faced off on Dec. 17, 2025.   

Once the game started, both teams were playing hard despite the fog being a visibility factor. The Eagles were able to apply early pressure on the Cardinals. But Laguna Creek was able to prevent the Eagles from scoring by constantly clearing the ball from its side of the field.

 

Cardinal’s #17 Wrenn Scruggs Passing Ball to Teammate 

Each team prevented the other from getting good looks and allowing limited opportunities.

Then, with just under 10 minutes left to play in the first half, Pleasant Grove took advantage of a Laguna Creek turnover when its captain, No. 22 Emma Buettner, scored the goal of the game at very close range.

Pleasant Grove was able to hold off Laguna Creek and take the lead 1-0 going into halftime.         

Once the second half had started the Eagles were able to have complete ball control. They kept the ball off Laguna Creek’s half of the field, but they were unable to score with the Cardinals playing great defense.                              

However, Pleasant Grove was able to find an opening through the defense with No. 3 Sierra Shepard scoring its second goal of the game with just under 25 minutes left to play.           

The Cardinals kept on fighting while being down by two goals, but they were unable to get their offense going, facing constant pressure from the Eagles.  

 

Laguna Creek’s No. 19, Ashley Beltran, does her best to keep the ball away from Eagle No. 10 Kaitlyn Vettel. 

And with about 12 minutes left in the game, the Eagles’ captain, No. 7 Zaina Chaudhry, scored on a free-kick attempt making the score 3-0. That ultimately put the game out of reach for the Cardinals.

Laguna Creek continued to fight and play hard despite the deficit, showing great perseverance, especially when captain No. 9 Maili Hernandez was able to score in the final minutes of the game.

The final score was 3-1 with Pleasant Grove coming out on top. The Eagles advanced to 11-4-2 on the season and 7-0 in league. They pushed their win streak to five games and look to keep it alive. 

Laguna Creek fell to 9-5-1 on the season and 4-3 in league play, still looking to get back into the win column.  

 

Pleasant Grove’s #10 Kaitlyn Ventura Subbing in For #28 Maddie Vettel