That was exactly the case when the two squared off in the final game of round one in the Mt. Hamilton Division of the Blossom Valley Athletic League last week. In fact, they were so evenly matched that they battled to a 1-1 tie.

Leland completed round one with a 3-1-2 division mark and tied Santa Teresa for third place. Pioneer sits at 3-0-3 in second place behind Leigh, the division leader at 5-0-1.

Pioneer struck first, less than a minute into the game. Kendra Worthington took the ball and made a run toward the goal, crossing a pass to Alysia Ramirez. There were Chargers all around Ramirez but she was able to volley the ball into the net and put Pioneer up 1-0, which was the story the scoreboard told at the half.

After the early score, both teams settled into a back and forth battle as both defenses controlled the game. "Both teams played very good defense," Pioneer coach Randy Worthington said. "Both teams got some shots off but the goalies had very solid games."

Leland was able to tie the score with about 16 minutes left in the game. Valerie Huffman brought the ball down the right side and dropped it in to Stephanie Kato just inside the 18-yard box. Kato received the pass and quickly blasted a shot with her left foot to the far post past the goalie to even the score at 1-1.

"After we gave up the early goal, we started to come out more," Leland coach John Vasquez said. "We had our opportunities to score but just missed them and could not finish them."

Earlier in the week, Leland shut out Branham 4-0 in a make-up game that had been postponed due to bad weather and field conditions the previous week.

Brittany Ivanco got things off to a good start and set the tempo of the game for the Chargers with a great shot on goal. V. Huffman was bringing the ball down the field when Ivanco called for it and received an excellent pass that she put in the net with a one-touch shot.

The Chargers went on to score three goals in the first half and one in the second to secure the win. Ivanco picked up a second goal with an assist by Kato. V. Huffman powered in an unassisted score and Evelyn Powery knocked in the final score on an assist from Allison Huffman.

"Our communication has gotten a lot better and we are playing better possessions," Vasquez said. "We are maintaining ball control much better and finishing our opportunities."

Pioneer also put together a shutout win over Branham last week, handing the Bruins a 3-0 loss. The Mustangs jumped out to a 2-0 halftime lead on scores by Stephanie Righetti and Bianca Springer. Samantha Vega picked up an assist on Righetti's goal and Righetti got the assist for Springer.

Pioneer's final goal came off the foot of Ramirez. Worthington set it up by crossing the ball over to Ramirez who dribbled past one defender and then nailed a shot from 20 yards out for the score.

Jules Setnicker played solid defense from her sweeper position in both of Pioneer's games. Goalie Kalia Demarques also had an outstanding week, especially against Leland when she made four excellent saves on quality shots.

Earlier this week, Leland took on Leigh and the Chargers will host Prospect on Jan. 21 at 3:15 p.m. Pioneer has only one game, against Leigh at home on Friday at 3:15 p.m.

It was an extremely difficult week of competition for Branham's Bruins, who got a nasty dose of what it's like to play in the always tough Mt. Hamilton Division. The Bruins not only suffered a third loss in the week at the hands of Leigh but also were shut out again 5-0.

The Bruins are in their first season in the "A" division and are struggling to find their rhythm, having compiled a 1-4-1 division mark in the first round. Branham will work at turning the tide as round two gets under way. The Bruins kicked things off with a game against Prospect on Wednesday and will go to Santa Teresa for 3:15 p.m. game on Friday.