Los Cerritos Community Newspaper Group

Delivered to 45,000 homes (over 105,000 readers) every Friday for over 14 years.
Click on link below to visit our website:
www.loscerritosnews.net

Friday, February 11, 2011

Lady Crusaders edged by Lakewood, prepare for postseason

By Loren Kopff

With a possible third consecutive Olympic League title in sights, the Valley Christian girls soccer team stepped outside of the circuit for the final time in the regular season last Thursday evening against visiting Lakewood. Head coach Kim Looney wanted a win but more importantly, she wanted to see how her team would fare against tougher competition for the upcoming California Interscholastic Federation-Southern Section Division IV playoffs.
• Looney’s team didn’t get the win, falling 2-1 to a team that also has aspirations of winning its league, but the Lady Crusaders showed that they are ready for the playoffs.
• “It was definitely a tune-up for the playoffs,” Looney said. “Our league teams are not as tough as a team like Lakewood. So, going into this game, I told the girls this is what we’re going to see in the playoffs. It’s nothing but number one teams out of a league and number two teams.”
• The game, especially in the first half, was completely dominated by the second place foe out of the Moore League as Lakewood took 14 shots against senior goalkeeper Kaydee Crossen before halftime and another 10 off of junior goalie Rebekah Ramos in the other 40 minutes. Those two combined for seven saves. Offensively, V.C. got off only shot in the first half, that coming from sophomore defender Madison Mire in the 36th minute.
• With the game scoreless at the half, the Lady Crusaders (12-7-3) came out strong in the second half and got somewhat of a fluke goal in the 43rd minute. Senior midfielder Natalie Lara fed a pass to junior midfielder Deanna Vander Meer who barely got the ball inside the right post when many thought it would go off to the side. It would be one of only two second half shots for the hosts.
• “I told the kids at halftime if we get any opportunities, just try to take advantage of it,” Looney said. “We weren’t going to get a whole lot of shots today. [Vander Meer] probably could have hit it one step sooner. It was a toe poke. I thought it was going out and I think their keeper thought it was going out too. It just snuck into that corner. We had momentum for about 10 minutes after that goal.”
• The Lancers quickly turned the momentum into their favor five minutes later when Ramos came out to make a sliding save to her left side of the penalty box which would eventually be cleared out by junior defender Courtney Santa Cruz. But, Lakewood got the equalizer from Priscilla Perez in the 52nd minute, then the game winner in the 63rd minute when Crystal Torres received a thrown in and headed in the tally.
• With five minutes remaining, Lara was looking to tie the contest but her indirect kick inside the penalty box hit the crossbar and bounced over. All seven losses have been outside the league with four being decided by one goal and four of the losses have been to teams currently ranked in the top 10 in their respective divisions (Flintridge Prep, Marymount, St. Margaret’s and South Torrance). The loss was also the first since a 2-1 setback to Montclair on Dec. 28 in the Ontario Christian Tournament which was decided on penalty kicks.
• “I knew a little bit that we probably would be playing some defense and they did well in that area tonight,” Looney said. “We couldn’t create a whole lot. I have a few injuries; both of my forwards now are hurt.”
• V.C. visited Whittier Christian this past Tuesday and came away with a 3-0 victory behind a pair of goals from Lara and one from junior defender Sarah Shibley. The Lady Crusaders hosted Village Christian on Feb. 10 and with a win or a tie, will crown themselves league champions.

No comments:

Post a Comment