Dynamic duo has Merced girls soccer team rolling in CCC

Hannah Esquivel is fearless on the pitch. At times, the Merced High School midfielder looks like a kamikaze pilot, ready to crash into a crowd of players and emerge from the pack with the ball.

Niccole Salm is the tactician. The senior midfielder seems always to find the open space, ready to receive the ball and quarterback the offense.

Together, they control the game and distribute the ball. They’re a big reason Merced sits alone atop the Central California Conference at 6-0 after a 3-0 win over Buhach Colony on Tuesday afternoon.

“I feel like me and (Esquivel) connect really well,” Salm said. “We don’t have to talk. She knows how I play, and I know how she plays. She goes after it hard. She’s aggressive. I think you need one midfielder like that. I’m right there for when she wins the ball. She knows I’ve got her back.”

Said Esquivel, “Niccole strategizes very well. She gives me an idea what to do with the ball or where to make a run. I body up.”

Salm and Esquivel helped Merced (10-1-1 overall) strike quickly in the first half for two goals with each picking up an assist.

Salm found Jetta Saeteurn open off of a free kick, and Saeteurn deposited the pass into the left corner of the net for a 1-0 lead seven minutes into the game.

Five minutes later, Esquivel made a nice pass through the Buhach Colony defenders on a breakaway to a streaking Evelyn Garcia, who scored easily.

Playing with a strong wind at their backs in the first half, the Bears dominated possession. The Thunder didn’t get off a shot until 11 minutes into the second half.

“We chose the wind first, and we capitalized on that,” Esquivel said. “We wanted to get an early lead and play defense in the second half. A lot of credit goes to our defense. They were amazing and kept us going.”

Buhach Colony’s best scoring opportunity came in the 51st minute when McKenzie Kirn got free for a shot from 25 yards, but Merced goalie Jessika McClesky deflected the ball wide of the frame with a dive. A few minutes later, Kirn had another shot off a corner kick but missed wide right of the post.

It was a stress-free day for McClesky, who had to make only two saves.

Esquivel put the game out of reach in the 66th minute when she got free and found the right corner of the net for a goal.

Despite 6-0 in the CCC, Merced coach Megan Atoigue feels the Bears have a long way to go before they can feel comfortable.

“We have to work hard every game,” she said. “There are no bad teams in our league. Every game is a challenge. We have to continue to work hard in practice and step up in games.”

Golden Valley 2, Pitman 2 in Merced – The Cougars (3-2-1 CCC) salvaged a draw with goals from Brittany Cervantes and Amenah Munoz. Danielle Vigil and Megan Pust recorded assists.

Turlock 5, Atwater 0 in Turlock – The Falcons dropped to 0-6 in the CCC despite six saves by goalie Erika Matola.

This story was originally published March 24, 2015 at 9:57 PM with the headline "Dynamic duo has Merced girls soccer team rolling in CCC."