Loyola Enjoys Timely Soccer Success

It was a nonleague victory in the first week of the new year, but Coach Chris Walter of Los Angeles Loyola said the Cubs’ 2-0 boys’ soccer upset of Santa Ana Mater Dei on Saturday came at an opportune time.

Loyola (7-1-5) had only one official loss -- a 2-0 decision to Long Beach Wilson -- entering its game against Mater Dei. But in tournament play, it had lost three shootouts, which count as ties in a team’s record. The Cubs also tied South Torrance and Beverly Hills in nonleague games.

“It was the first time this season where we seemed to put it all together,” Walter said of the shutout of Mater Dei. “We seemed to play well in all the different parts of the game. We’d had a hard time finishing earlier, but we got two first-half goals.”

Loyola opens Mission League play Wednesday with a game at North Hollywood Harvard-Westlake. The Cubs shared the league title with La Canada St. Francis last year.

-- John Ortega

Robert Della Grotta, a 6-foot-4 pitcher and outfielder for Santa Ana Mater Dei, has committed to Pepperdine.

A two-way football standout and honors student, Della Grotta decided to focus on baseball in college.

Milvon James, a running back at Los Angeles Fremont, has committed to Oregon and Whitfield Usher, an offensive lineman from Los Angeles Jefferson, has committed to Stanford.

Charlie Festerling has resigned after two seasons as football coach at Camarillo.

-- Eric Sondheimer