(GILBERT, Ariz.) Gilbert Christian took down two at home this week, shutting out Trivium Prep 19-0, and defeating Valley Christian 8-1 in girls' soccer action. Senior Caprice Chiuchiolo compiled six goals and eight assists in the streak, racking up an impressive four-goal 'haul' against the Trojans.
"The ladies were focused and ready to play this week," Head Coach Hector Orellana said. "Against Valley, our back line took control for a majority of the game and did what we wanted to do. We played as a team, and it was an awesome performance and result for us!"
Newcomer Brinkley Stansberry continued to make a big impact on the field in her freshman campaign, scoring three against the Crimson Knights, and finding the back of the net off of a Chiuchiolo corner to log Gilbert Christian's second goal in the Valley showdown.
The Knights' third score belonged to Chiuchiolo, who capitalized on a Trojans' foul, sinking a penalty kick to give GCHS a 3-1 edge with 1:32 to play in the first half.
Valley responded with a good look of its own just before time expired, but the Knights' senior goalkeeper Michelle Lopez laid out to prevent the score, keeping the margin at two.
The floodgates opened after the break, as Chiuchiolo recorded her third and fourth of the match, stretching to punch one in at 32:55, and lunging to smash a ball, off-balance, past the Trojans' diving keeper at 29:06.
Sophomore Charlotte Shimkus capitalized a minute later, putting herself in the right position off of a Chiuchiolo corner, to net her second goal in as many games for the Knights. Shimkus, a defender, has four goals on the year for GCHS.
Gilbert Christian's seventh goal belonged to senior Kinley Rhineheimer, who got a foot on another Chiuchiolo corner ball, and somehow managed to lob it up and over a pack of Valley's defenders and the goalie, to register her sixth score of the season.
The final score of the match came with 10:02 remaining on the clock as freshman Kelsey Peterson attacked from the middle and blasted the ball into the net off of a Chiuchiolo dish, extending the margin to 8-1.
Lopez saw more action in Wednesday's contest than typically accustomed to, notching five clutch saves against the Trojans with help from a strong GCHS back-line.
With 19 goals and 17 assists (55 points) in her senior campaign, Chiuchiolo is six goals shy of reaching the prestigious 100-goal high school career mark. With this week's Herculean effort, Chiuchiolo breaks the GCHS record for career assists (69) and career points scored (257). Her 94 goals tie the school record for most goals ever scored (boys or girls). The previous career record holder for soccer was Hannah Burke (class of 2020) with 252 points, 64 assists and 94 goals.
The Knights improve to 5-1 overall with the Valley and Trivium Prep wins.
Catch Gilbert Christian's next match on January 21st at 6:00pm, when the Knights will host Northwest Christian in regional play.
-GO KNIGHTS-
TRIVIUM PREP STATISTICS
1st goal Jersi Wilson, Assist Brinkley Stansberry
2nd goal Caprice Chiuchiolo, Assist Millie Torre
3rd goal Brinkley, Assist Caprice
4th goal Charlotte Shimkus, Assist Caprice
5th goal Kinley Rhineheimer, Assist Millie
6th goal Brinkley, Assist Kinley
7th goal Caprice, Assist Reese Tammany & Jersi
8th goal Millie, Assist Caprice
9th goal Meredith Johnson, Assist Kinley
10th goal Stephanie Noble, Assist Adriana Vranicic
11th goal Kinley, Assist Meredith
12th goal Mackenzie Henderson, Assist Meredith & Kelsey Peterson
13th goal Mackenzie, Assist Meredith
14th goal Meredith
15th goal Stephanie, Assist Reese
16th goal Brinkley, Assist Caprice & Charlotte
17th goal Reese, Assist Jersi & Millie
18th goal Ava Johnson, Assist Kelsey
19th goal Riley Bublitz, Assist Amber Peterson
