Hat trick! Los Gatos’ Abby Nelson nets three goals as Wildcats romp past Mitty to reach CCS title game
LOS GATOS — As Abby Nelson’s kick lofted toward the Archbishop Mitty net in the 61st minute, Los Gatos’ star forward couldn’t believe her eyes.
Neither could the Los Gatos faithful, at least one of whom exclaimed “Holy (expletive)!” as Nelson’s intended cross from the far touchline drifted over the outstretched hands of Mitty’s goalkeeper and into the orange nylon.
That divine shot clinched the Wildcats’ 4-0 win over Mitty and gave Nelson her second consecutive hat trick, capping a historic afternoon where Los Gatos stamped itself as a true contender in the Central Coast Section’s top division.
No. 2 Los Gatos (17-1-3) will face top seed St. Francis (19-0-1) for the CCS Division I championship on Friday at Santa Clara University. It will be the Cats’ first appearance in the top division title game since 2014.
Mitty’s (15-4-1) season will continue in the CIF NorCal playoffs next week.
“They’re a good team, no doubt about it,” Mitty coach JT Hanley said. “They’re the best Los Gatos team that I’ve seen in 20 years at Mitty, for sure.”
The Wildcats took control early with Nelson’s first goal, a half-volleyed finish just outside the six-yard box off an assist from Elizabeth Leitch in the 11th minute. Then in the 52nd minute, Teagan Kaefer’s shot from well outside the box bounced off the right post, setting up Larson’s for the tap-in brace.
Then in the 61st came Nelson’s stunner, a high-arcing cross not intended for goalkeeper consumption. As it happened, it turned out to be the perfect shot, impossible to reach and deposited brilliantly into the back netting.
“The wind took it and it kind of just went over the goalie’s hand,” Nelson said.
Kaefer finished off the scoring in the 77th minute, curling in a perfect shot off a short corner to seal the deal.
Nelson has had a knack for finishing goals all season. She’s scored 39 goals in 21 games, at least one goal in all but one game and three or more goals seven times.
So back-to-back playoff triples? That’s old hat.
“She surprises me every game with some of her goals,” said first-year Los Gatos coach Lisa Mitchell. “And just when you think you’ve seen an awesome one, she pulls out something the next game.”
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