CHILLICOTHE – The Mendota Lady Trojans saw their soccer season come to a close after a hard-fought 6-3 loss to Bloomington Central Catholic in the championship match of the Chillicothe (IVC) Regional on May 10.

Central Catholic zoomed out to a 3-0 lead in the first 20 minutes of action before Mendota got on the board on a goal by Jesenya Avila assisted by Daisy Arteaga at the 24:16 mark.

Six minutes later, the Lady Trojans sliced the deficit to one when Arteaga found the open net off a corner kick. The assist went to Piper Artman.

The Saints added a goal before halftime to take a 4-2 lead to intermission.

Mendota got the first goal of the second half to make it another one-goal deficit. Avila scored for the second time with the assist going to Artman.

The game remained 4-3 until Central Catholic tallied two goals in the final 15 minutes to earn the victory.

Bianca Espinoza was in goal for the Lady Trojans.

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Mendota advanced to the championship match with a 10-0 drubbing of Peoria Manual on May 7.

It was the Arteaga and Avila show for the Lady Trojans in the first half as both scored three goals apiece to give Mendota a 6-0 lead heading to halftime.

Arteaga got things started less than two minutes into the contest off an assist by Amellia Bromenschenkel. Twenty-five seconds later, Avila took a pass from Arteaga and booted home Mendota’s second goal.

Arteaga tallied back-to-back unassisted goals to make it 4-0, then Avila finished up the first-half scoring with a pair of goals, getting one assist from Esmeralda Perez.

Mendota spread the goal scoring around in the second half as four different players found the net. Picking up goals were Bromenschenkel, Isabella Tolentino, Selina Hernandez and Yahaira Mandujano. Avila assisted with three of the goals, while Artman also had an assist.

Marissa Martin was in goal for Mendota and pitched the shutout.