Heritage High senior midfielder Mikayla Griggs was determined to help her team win its first North Coast Section playoff game this year, but she didn’t stop there.

After scoring both goals in a 2-1 first-round overtime victory over Berkeley, Griggs again accounted for all of the Patriots’ offense in a 2-1 win last week over third-seeded Castro Valley. Down 1-0 to the Trojans in the second half, Griggs scored two goals to put Heritage over the top.

“They’re excited, but at the same time, they’re also focused,” Patriots head coach Randy James said. “They feel a continued responsibility to perform rather than the ‘We’re just happy to be here’ thing.”

The victory over Castro Valley earned Heritage, the No. 6 seed in the tournament, a game with second-seeded San Ramon Valley, a tough East Bay Athletic League foe. However, the playoff run ended Wednesday with a 1-0 overtime loss to the Wolves.

It was an overtime goal by Griggs that led the Patriots to the second round in a 2-1 victory over Berkeley in the first round of the playoffs. The goal was Griggs’ second of the game, the first coming shortly before the final whistle of regulation. Both were assisted by sophomore forward Jamie Barron.

“Mikayla was determined not to lose,” James said. “She wanted to win and that’s the best way to put it.”

Berkeley led 1-0 at halftime on the strength of a goal by freshman Farah Otero-Amad.

After Heritage’s one-and-done showing last season, this was the first playoff win for the program in its brief varsity history.

Clayton Valley 2, Liberty 1

Seventh-seeded Liberty, the Bay Valley Athletic League runner-up, suffered a 2-1 first-round loss to Diablo Valley Athletic League foe Clayton Valley, the No. 10 seed in the tournament.

Monte Vista 3, Freedom 1

Freedom’s season ended in a 3-1 loss to Monte Vista in the first round of the NCS playoffs.

The Mustangs held a 2-0 lead at halftime on goals by senior Jamie O’Donnell and freshman Melissa Lewis. Senior Sami Schrakamp scored a third goal for Monte Vista at the 52-minute mark.

Junior midfielder Catherine Carter scored the lone Falcons goal at 62 minutes. Senior goalkeeper Jessica Deno was credited with 12 saves.

Boys soccer

Richmond 1, Deer Valley 0

BVAL champion Deer Valley saw its impressive season come to an end Wednesday night in a 1-0 loss to No. 14 seed Richmond in the first round of the playoffs.

The Wolverines, seeded third, went 12-2-6 in the regular season.

Berkeley 5, Pittsburg 2

Pittsburg was no match for Berkeley’s offense, as the Pirates fell to the Yellowjackets 5-2 in the NCS playoffs’ first round.

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