Early foul trouble cost Exeter in 14-8 loss to Reedley
By Patrick Dillon @PDillon_SGN
REEDLEY – The fifth-seeded Exeter Monarchs’ season ended last Saturday when they lost to the fourth-seeded Reedley Pirates 14-8 in the Division III playoffs.
“We played well, but we just got into foul trouble early,” Exeter head coach Amanda Ogata said.
Two of the Monarchs’ (14-10, 6-2) more prolific scorers, Zach Welch and Cliff Evrett, were forced to sit for first-half penalties. Ogata had to remove them for noticeable amounts of time or risk them picking up their third foul and losing them for the entire game. The move forced her to shift players into positions they were not used to playing. That resulted in the Pirates (18-12, 7-3) gaining the lead.
The loss came four days after the Monarchs defeated the No. 12-seeded Yosemite Badgers (14-12, 8-4) in the opening round 13-7.
Ogata is already looking forward to next season. Exeter returns a core group of three players in Welch, Caleb Peltzer, and Jacob Aurelio which could led the Monarchs back to a playoff run.
“Each one of them brings something to the table that contributes to the entire team,” Ogata said.
Aurelio will be the go-to guy on the Monarchs’ offense next season. He led the team this season with 67 goals. According to Ogata, he can score from anywhere in the pool.
The defensive specialist for next season seems to be Peltzer. He already can cover and deny shots from some of the best players in the Central Sequoia League and even the section.
Ogata said she hopes Welch will take on the leadership role in the pool next season. He was the team’s second highest scorer with 38 goals, but it is his ability to see the pool that Ogata hopes will translate into leading the team’s offense next season.
