"I'm El Toro," Tori Sarlo exclaimed.
It was the senior's concise, and spot-on, explanation for how she powered her Timber Creek girls' soccer team to its biggest win of the season, a 3-2 home victory over division rival Paul VI on Wednesday.
El Toro, Spanish for "the bull," is Sarlo's nickname. And when the senior scored her first career goal with less than two minutes left in regulation, breaking a 2-2 tie, El Toro was a fitting description of Sarlo's charge to the net.
"One thing about Tori, she's a versatile player," first-year Timber Creek coach Shawn McHugh said. "We can put her in the back. We can put her in the midfield. We can put her in the flank. . . .
"Her nickname is the bull because she just never stops during games. She just runs through people, and that goal was a perfect example."
Sarlo's goal was set up when Paul VI goalkeeper Kristen McShane and a teammate had a bit of a miscommunication in front of the net. Both went for the ball at the same time. Neither could gain full possession. As the ball rattled between the two players, Sarlo charged between both of them and slid the ball into the net.
Hence, El Toro.
"I've never scored a goal in my life," Sarlo said. "I've always been a defender until this season. But it feels so great - it's awesome. I can't believe that this is my first goal. I'm so happy."
Sarlo's goal also kept Timber Creek (7-2-1) alive in the Olympic Conference National Division and earned the team its first win, in program history, over Paul VI.
"We were so pumped up for this game," Sarlo said. "It was a physical, rough game, it's a huge rivalry, and it's so big that we were able to win this game."
The two teams had been going back and forth in a physical, chippy matchup in which tensions boiled over twice in the form of yellow cards.
Paul VI (6-4-1) struck first when Loren Reilley netted a bullet from 30 yards in the seventh minute. In the 28th minute, Timber Creek forward Olivia McEachern netted her 13th goal of the season. She streaked toward the net, past a defender, and slid the ball across the goal and into the net.
The teams traded second-half goals, and overtime seemed inevitable before Sarlo's heroics.
"It was nerve-racking, but I knew we had it the whole time," Sarlo said. "We're an amazing team, and we've worked so hard for this."
After a loss to division rival Bishop Eustace on Monday, the win keeps Timber Creek alive in the National Division.
"It just shows the character of this team for us to come out and win this game," McHugh said. "They knew what was at stake. Timber Creek has never beaten Paul VI in school history. The division is on the line. It was just a huge win."
Paul VI 1 1 – 2
Timber Creek 1 2 – 3
Goals: PVI-Loren Reilley, Janae Geonnetti; TC-Olivia McEachern, Kelly Farrell, Tori Sarlo.
Saves: PVI-Kristen McShane 2; TC-Lanye Halliday 3.
Contact Chris Melchiorre at rallysports@phillynews.com.
