As Jasmine De Alva lined up for the potential go-ahead direct kick, she could feel the pressure on her shoulders.

“All I was saying to myself was, ‘I have to score this,’ said De Alva. “But nobody else wanted to take it, so it was all on me.”

De Alva’s goal over a wall of three defenders pushed Pitman to a 2-1 double-overtime victory over Golden Valley (Merced) and into the quarterfinals of the Sac-Joaquin Section Division 2. They’ll travel to face Rocklin today.

De Alva missed practice on Tuesday with a head cold. But she’ll be in school today regardless of how she feels. Athletes must attend school on game day or they’re ineligible to play. 

“Yep, I’ll be there,” she said. “We’ve got a game to win.”

Age: 15

Grade: Freshman

Favorite class: Math 1

Favorite food : Hamburgers

Hobbies: Going to the gym

Secret talent: I can juggle the soccer ball

Dream college: UCLA

Favorite movie: “Mean Girls”

Favorite color: Red

Favorite athlete: Chicharito

Favorite team: Real Madrid

Last book read: “The House on Mango Street”

Favorite artist: Rauw Alejandro 

Three songs on your playlist: “Cuando baje el sol” by Rauw Alejandro; “Perro Negro” by Bad Bunny; “Where She Goes” by Bad Bunny.

Finish this sentence: I can’t live without … soccer.

Finish this sentence: In 10 years I will be … playing professional soccer in Mexico.