MIDWEEK REPORT / HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS UPDATE : For La Canada, a Day When Time Stood Still

The La Canada High boys’ soccer team, which plays Corona in the Division IV final Saturday at Gahr High in Cerritos, needed a pair of goals in the final minute of play last Thursday to defeat Sierra Vista, 3-2.

The escape allowed the Spartans to extend their Southern Section record for consecutive victories, a mark which stands at 49 after they routed Temecula Valley, 5-0, in a semifinal Tuesday.

“I kept waiting for them to blow the whistle and for us to lose the game,” La Canada Coach Lou Bilowitz said of the Sierra Vista contest. “I kept thinking of the things I could tell the boys in the locker room so they wouldn’t feel so down.”

Bilowitz said his watch showed 50 minutes 39 seconds had been played in the second half when the game ended. Halves are supposed to be 40 minutes.

“I know there was some legitimate time added because of injuries, but not 10 minutes,” Bilowitz said. “It was like a gift.”

Surprise Finalists

A few unlikely names are among the 22 wrestlers from the region who will compete in the State finals this weekend at the University of the Pacific in Stockton.

Andy Moro of San Fernando (119 pounds) not only is the only freshman but the first freshman in school history to advance to the State meet. Cristobal Gonzalez (171) of Ventura is the first sophomore in school history to reach the State finals. Senior Jesus Rivera (112) of El Camino Real was selected outstanding wrestler in the City Section finals after pinning top-seeded Andre Bazan of Bell in 54 seconds to win his first City title.

Perhaps more surprising, however, were the names of those who will not compete.

Jesse Bautista of Rio Mesa (130) and Juan Roman of Channel Islands (112)--both state competitors last season--qualified for the Southern Section Masters Meet last weekend but did not wrestle because of injuries.

Bautista (35-2), who placed sixth at the State meet last season as a sophomore, was sidelined because of bruised ribs. Roman (39-2), a three-time Marmonte League champion and Division II champion this season, dropped out because of torn knee ligaments.

Roman (39-2), a senior, was left crushed by the end of his high school career. Roman said he will undergo surgery--after traveling to Stockton to witness this weekend’s competition.

“I feel OK now,” Roman said. “But before, I took it really hard.”

Soccer Notes

City Section

Boys: Reseda’s season ended at Banning for the second year in a row when it suffered a 4-3 overtime loss Tuesday to the Pilots in a section quarterfinal. Last season the Regents lost to Banning in a semifinal game. . . . Chatsworth striker Mike Preis scored Tuesday in the Chancellors’ 3-2 quarterfinal loss to Garfield. He finishes as the program’s career scoring leader with 46 goals. . . . Birmingham suffered a bitter 3-0 quarterfinal loss at home to unheralded Locke. Coach Jose Freire said several major defensive errors and the absence of star midfielder Gabriel Ortega were crucial. Ortega suffered a broken leg a month ago. . . . Third-seeded Sylmar, which plays at second-seeded Belmont today in a semifinal game, is paced by quick, skilled midfielders Carlos Cabrera (23 goals) and Francisco Vasquez. “They are our most-versatile players; they can play midfield or up front if we need them,” Coach Manuel Vega said.

Southern Section

Boys: St. Francis faces Arroyo Grande in the Division III final Saturday at Gahr High. Golden Knight Coach Glen Appels said it will be the school’s first section title game in any sport since 1964, when the football team won a championship. “We realize we have a chance to do something really spectacular,” Appels said. . . . . Santa Paula’s 5-0 loss Tuesday to Corona quashed any chance for a regional showdown with La Canada in the Division IV finals. . . . Westlake won a pair of one-goal Division I playoff games before falling, 1-0, in overtime to top-ranked Peninsula.

Girls: Buena advanced to the Division II semifinals for the third consecutive season but had its season ended there for the second time in that stretch with a 4-2 loss to El Modena. . . . . Paraclete advanced to the Division IV quarterfinals for the second consecutive year.

Track and Field

Southern Section

Boys: Will Bernaldo of Nordhoff set a school record Saturday in the indoor two-mile of the L.A. Invitational at the Sports Arena when he clocked 9 minutes 35.85 seconds to finish third.

Girls: Kim Mortensen of Thousand Oaks altered several statistical lists when she ran 4:53.27 to win the mile in the L.A. Invitational. First, it was the fastest high school time in the nation this year. Second, it broke the region indoor record of 4:53.7 set by Vickie Cook of Alemany in 1982. Finally, it moved the Lancer senior to seventh on the region’s all-time list which includes indoor and outdoor marks. . . . Palmdale sophomore Kadrina Coffee was nipped by San Diego Morse senior Lana Garner in the 500-yard dash at the L.A. Invitational, but her time of 1:07.8 moved her to second on the all-time region list behind Denean Howard, who clocked 1:04.1 running for Kennedy in 1981.

Wrestling Notes

Southern Section

Danny Gibbs of Agoura, with a 35-0 record at 189 pounds, entered the Masters Meet as the only undefeated area wrestler. However, Gibbs, Division II champion, failed to qualify for the State meet after being pinned in two matches.

Rey Torres (160) and Ryan Montanez (130) of Royal enter the state tournament with identical 48-5 records and Marmonte League titles.

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Contributing: Vince Kowalick, John Ortega, Tris Wykes.