Saturday, March 3, 2007

SOUTHERN SECTION CHAMPIONSHIPS

DIVISION I

Championship

Mater Dei 1, Upland 0
Santa Ana Mater Dei did to Upland what no other team could do in 60 games and two seasons. Lindsey Brown scored the only goal in a crowd at the goalmouth as the second-seeded Monarchs upset top-seeded Upland at Downey Warren, ending a 60-game unbeaten streak by the Highlanders. "I was hoping it would be one more," Upland Coach Kerri Fahres said. "But sometimes the soccer gods don't smile on you. That's just how soccer is."

Mater Dei (24-3-4) won despite being outshot, 16-4, and getting past midfield only once in the second half. With the early goal in hand, however, the Monarchs simply defended their lead the rest of the way, and sophomore goalkeeper Derian Vercillo did it well. With defenders Brina Siddiq, Claire Schloemer, Justyne Freud and Alyssa Oldham helping out in front of her, Vercillo made 10 saves.

She had to, because Upland (27-1-2) pushed hard all game in an attempt to retain the division title it won last season. "It's always good to get one goal up," Vercillo said "They dominated the game. There wasn't one moment when I wasn't anxious out there."

The title was the first for the Monarchs since 1992, when they won the 4-A division.

They were the Division I runners-up in 2005. This time, Brown's goal put Upland behind for the first time all season. With five players bound for NCAA Division I colleges, the Highlanders outscored their opponents by a 106-9 margin.

"We had a lot of respect for them," Mater Dei Coach Matty West said. "They've had an incredible run, and we're glad we had the opportunity to do this."

--Lauren Peterson

DIVISION II

Championship

Temecula Valley 2, Redlands East Valley 1
Natalie Ducatenzeiler scored the tiebreaking goal in the 68th minute after Temecula Valley tied the score on an own goal in the 49th minute in the Division II finals at Warren High.

Redlands East Valley senior defender Sandra Shuker tried to clear away a cross sent into the penalty area by Temecula Valley senior midfielder Jacquelyn Witz, but instead put the ball into the net, past diving sophomore goalkeeper Brittany Winegar.

"We don't make mistakes like that, so it's kind of one of those things that happens, it's going to happen here," said Wildcat Coach Cristina Ballard after the loss, which sent several of her players into tears. "I don't it killed the intensity of the game.

It made us pick it up a liuttle bit more, but that was the difference between being co-champs and runners-up."

Redlands East Valley (23-3-2) opened the scoring in the 13th minute when freshman forward Briana Campos put a rebound of a shot by senior midfielder Korianne Masuere past Golden Bear freshman goalkeeper Chelsea Morales. The Wildcats failed to capitalize on several opportunities to score after the own goal.

An apparent goal in the 59th minute was nullified by an offsides call. A shot by junior midfielder Erin Rhodes beat Morales, but rolled out of bounds narrowly wide of the net in the 65th minute. Gabriela Carlos-Weber's header beat Morales, but was cleared off the goal line by Temecula Valley (24-0-5) junior defender Christiana Lang in the 67th minute.

Both schools were making their first appearances in a girls' finals.

--Steven Herbert

DIVISION III

Championship

Sunny Hills 3, Mayfair 2
The top-seeded Lancers scored all their goals in the opening 16 minutes at Warren. Tanya Taylor and Lauren Roblero scored for Sunny Hills (25-1-5) in the seventh and 10th minutes. Sami Wall scored the first goal for second-seeded Mayfair (25-5-2) in the 14th minute.

Audrey McKay put the Lancers ahead, 3-1, by scoring in the 16th minute when a defender's clearance attempt hit her and went into the goal. "That third goal was a little lucky," Monsoons Coach Sal Marroquin said. Jimi Cassiani scored for Mayfair in the 24th minute, in what proved to be the game's final goal."In the second half, they did what they needed to keep that lead and we didn't score on the opportunities that we had," Marroquin said.

--Steven Herbert

DIVISION IV

Championship

La Salle 1, Bishop Montgomery 0
The second, and final, goal of La Salle senior Sarah Shelvin's high school career could not have happened during a bigger game.

In the 20th minute of the Division IV final at Downey High, the midfielder was in a clearing in front of the net when Lauren McAulai's cross came over the crowd and right to her. "I think I was just in the right place at the right time," said Shelvin, who immediately shot the ball pass helpless goalie Karla Ricardi for the goal that lifted the Lancers to their first outright section title. "Nobody was there. I was just lucky."

The Lancers, who were co-champions in 2002, shut out their final three opponents in the playoffs behind the dominant play of senior defenders McAulay, Kasey Johnson and Erin Smith. They needed only four saves from goalkeeper Makenzie Tedrotti against the Knights, who got 10 saves from Ricardi.

--Chuck Schilken

DIVISION V

Championship

Oaks Christian 0, Cerritos Valley Christian 0
Oaks Christian completed an unlikely run from finishing fourth in the Tri-Valley League to winning a Southern Section championship by tying for the Division V title at Downey.

The Lions (16-6-2) needed to win their final three regular-season games to qualify for the playoffs and a wild-card round game to reach the first round. "This is icing on the cake to be in the final," Oaks Christian Coach Jan Hethcock said.

The Lions led in shots, 16-7, but were stymied by Crusader senior goalkeeper Tracy Boekestein. "We had our opportunities, but didn't capitalize on them," Hethcock said.

Freshman midfielder Hayley Haagsma had the best scoring opportunity for Valley Christian (18-8-4) with a breakaway in the 60th minute, but Lion sophomore goaltender Noelle Salter made the save and freshman defender Lauren Lindstrom safely cleared the ball away.

"My stomach flipped when I saw it spit out like that," Hethcock said. "I was yelling at her to come out, then she stayed. We got very fortunate that they kicked it to her."

Oaks Christian "got off to a shaky start in the beginning of the season," and lost UCLA signee Nicole Sweetman for the entire season because of a knee injury, Hethcock said. "We got to a point where we realized she wasn't coming back and we had to regroup," Hethcock said. "We made several changes and it worked."

The championship was the fourth in the last five seasons for the Lions. All its finals have ended in ties. "There's no shame in tying at this level," Hethcock said. "I wish we could go to a shootout, but they just don't do that." Crusader Coach Kim Looney said she was not disappointed by her team's inability to score.

"We're still walking away with a CIF championship," Looney said after her school's second championship in three seasons, with both finals ending in ties with Oaks Christian. "It's not the elation when you get a win, but it is the satisfaction of knowing you still have a CIF championship."

--Steven Herbert

DIVISION VI

Championship

Lancaster Desert Christian 1, Ontario Christian 1
Ontario Christian junior Jaclyn Bollema rarely scores goals and Desert Christian almost never gives them up. So it's no wonder the defender looked stunned after her header off senior Tricia Arith's corner kick bounced into the goal in the 57th minute to tie the Division VI final at 1-1 and produce co-champions at Downey. It's the second section title for Desert Christian and the fifth for Ontario Christian. "I was little surprised," said Bollema, who scored all three of her goals this year on headers off Arith's corner kicks. "I just jumped and hoped and prayed to God that it went in."

Goalie Caitlin Aikenhead and Desert Christian had given up only three goals all season and none since late December. Aikenhead had seven saves for Desert Christian and Miranda Thrasher had six for Ontario Christian. Senior Karleigh Hobson scored in the 52nd minute for Desert Christian, which outscored it opponents, 33-1, in the playoffs.

Saturday, March 3, 2007

CITY SECTION

CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION

Championship

El Camino Real 3, Sylmar 0
It didn't take long for the top-seeded Conquistadors to establish their superiority in the girls' Championship Division final at East Los Angeles College. Junior midfielder Megan Quinn scored on a header in the second minute and El Camino Real never looked back, cruising to a victory that extended its record streak of consecutive city titles to seven.

The Conquistadors (20-2-4) improved to 144-15-14 over the last seven seasons and have outscored their final-round opponents, 21-2, over that span. Another junior midfielder, Katie Etcher, trapped an errant goal kick just outside the penalty area and launched a shot into the corner of the net just before halftime to increase El Camino Real's lead to 2-0. She then provided the final scoring by netting a crossing pass from teammate Michelle Oakes, four minutes into the second half. "The feeling is just amazing," Etcher said, "This never gets old. One of the things that has made us successful is that we never take winning for granted."

With 21 players returning, including 12 underclassmen, the Conquistadors are already looking ahead to next season. "This is a dynasty and we never want it to end," Etcher said. "Winning the championship is our goal every year. From the very first time you step on the practice field, that's all were focused on." Making their first appearance in a section final, second-seeded Sylmar (30-3) had its moments but was unable to finish scoring chances. Sophomore striker Carol Martinez, who led the section with 42 goals, was smothered by an El Camino Real defense than surrendered only one goal in five playoff games. "They didn't really do anything special to mark me," Martinez said " But they do a good job of pushing up and not giving you space."

Senior Nicole Gonzalez, who had 23 shutouts this season, made 15 saves for Sylmar.

-Steve Galluzzo

INVITATIONAL

Championship

Palisades 2, Los Angeles University 1
Kelly Mickel converted a penalty kick in the 75th minute for the Dolphins' winning margin over their Western League rivals.

Erika Martin tied the score with a goal in the 45th minute for No. 21 Palisades (12-6-5). Charlotte Toates scored in the 10th minute for No. 15 University (12-3-3).

--Steve Galluzzo

Friday, March 2, 2007

CITY SECTION PLAYOFFS

SMALL SCHOOLS FINAL

Foshay 2, Sherman Oaks CES 1

Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2007

CITY SECTION PLAYOFFS

CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION

Semifinals

El Camino Real 3, L.A. Hamilton 0
Michelle Oakes scored all three goals for El Camino Real (19-2-4).

Sylmar 2, Granada Hills 1
Jennifer Alverez had a goal and assist for Sylmar (30-2), while Elizabeth Arias added the other goal and Carol Martinez had an assist. Granada Hills' only goal was actually an own goal for Sylmar. Sylmar goes to the section championship for the first time in school history.

INVITATIONAL DIVISION

Semifinals

Palisades 2, Reseda 0
Kelly Mickel scored in the 12th minute and Erika Martin scored in the 57th minute for 21st-seeded Palisades (12-6-5) at 24th-seeded Reseda (10-9-2).

L.A. University 4, Bell 1

Notes: Invitational final, Mar 3, 2 p.m. at East Los Angeles College; City championship, Mar 3, 7 p.m. at East Los Angeles College.

Friday, March 2, 2007

SMALL SCHOOLS DIVISION

Championship, Friday, 7 p.m. at East Los Angeles College

#1 Foshay (14-2) vs. #2 Sherman Oaks CES (11-2-1)