What Boulder Creek displayed at the start of the second half was unexpected, considering that Casteel’s speed and skill set Tuesday’s pace early.

But Sophie Williams’ lethal left leg turned the match on a dime when she scored in back-to-back scoring sequences. Credit goalkeeper Alexis Thompson’s acrobatic saves for also helping Boulder Creek secure a pivotal non-region 3-1 home victory.

Those saves (Seven of Thompson’s 11 unofficial saves came in the first half.) kept Boulder Creek in the match and helped set the stage for Williams. Just as fans were returning from the concession stand, Williams also showed off her precision, first with a 19-yard, near post strike that beat Casteel’s diving goalkeeper.

Then, just 53 seconds later, Williams curled in an 18-yarder into the side netting.

“The first half was a little rough in the beginning,” Thompson said. "But we really pulled it together in the second half after we talked to each other and got on the same page at halftime."

Casteel is home to two freshmen that don’t play like freshmen.

Forwards Sydney Lewis and Tatum Gardner were creating and taking most of the unofficial 23 shots Casteel tallied. Slowing down Lewis on the right side and keeping Gardner from dribbling away were priorities for Boulder Creek’s defense.

That defense did its best to stay in front of those two stars, and when the freshmen did escape, Thompson was there to save the day when the shots came her way.

“In our last game, too, (Thompson) was a beast,” Williams said. "She was saving goals left and right and same thing tonight. (Casteel) has two really good forwards."

Casteel (7-1) scored its goal after a glancing header by, it appeared, defender Brooklyn Jones off a corner kick when it trailed 2-0 in the 73rd minute.

But one of Boulder Creek’s top-flight leaders, senior Kaylee Muniz, then capped her team’s big night with an “Olimpico,” a corner kick goal in the final minutes of the match. Boulder Creek is off to one of its best starts (7-0 record) in school history.

On Dec. 11, it defeated Xavier Prep 4-1, snapping Xavier's 31 match unbeaten streak versus Arizona teams.

“We are working on earning every win,” Boulder Creek coach Regina Cormier said. "Every win is a blessing and something to celebrate."