SOUTHERN SECTION PLAYOFFS : BOYS’ SOCCER ROUNDUP : Defensive Lapse Knocks El Toro Out of Playoffs

Rancho Cucamonga spotted El Toro’s weakness in the second half and took advantage to score a 1-0 victory in a Southern Section Division III boys’ soccer quarterfinal Thursday at El Toro High.

The Chargers’ failure to pick up the weak-side attacker cost them when Junior Gonzalez took a pass from Robert Ortega on the far right side and scored with 17 minutes left to play.

“We had that weak-side problem against Riverside Poly when it scored on us and now it happened again,” El Toro Coach Bob Chavez said. “I guess it gives us something to work on in the off-season.”

The difference between Thursday’s game against the Cougars and Tuesday’s upset of second-seeded Riverside Poly was El Toro’s ability to rally and tie with five minutes remaining. The Chargers then won the shootout in overtime, 3-2.

Against Rancho Cucamonga (15-7-4), El Toro pressured late in the game but never found a way to beat Cougar goalkeeper Chris Humphreys, who recorded his fourth consecutive shutout.

“We did pick it up a little bit after they scored, but at that point it was a little too late,” Chavez said. “I don’t think we played like we could for 60 of the 80 minutes.”

El Toro (11-8-5) had a good scoring chance late in the first half when Brent Stringham spun away from a defender at midfield and skirted a pass to Deiter Segura, who was a step ahead of the nearest Rancho Cucamonga player.

However, Humphrey charged out and got to the pass a split second before Segura to snuff out the play.

The Chargers’ best scoring opportunity came in the second half, when Segura lofted a throw-in that found its way to Patrick O’Brien on the far post.

O’Brien was all alone with Humphrey, but the junior goalkeeper got a piece of the shot and sent it out of play.

“I really hadn’t faced any quality shots in the playoffs until that one,” Humphrey said.

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In another Division III game:

Woodbridge 3, Sherman Oaks Notre Dame 2--Mike Jacobs had two goals, including the game-winner 30 minutes into the second half, for Woodbridge (19-5-2). Gustav Gratzer scored the tying goal early in the second half for the Warriors, who will play Rancho Cucamonga in the semifinals on Tuesday.

In Division II:

South Torrance 1, Orange 1 (South Torrance advances on penalty kicks, 5-4)--Victor Lopez scored Orange’s only goal 10 minutes into the second half to tie score.

In Division IV:

San Marino 1, Sunny Hills 0--Goalkeeper Jeff Murphy had five saves for Sunny Hills (20-4-1).