Girls soccer: No. 2 CdM at No. 3 Chaminade in semis

Barry Faulkner

WEST HILLS - The second-seeded Corona del Mar High girls soccer

team (17-4-4) takes a 12-game unbeaten streak into today’s 3 p.m. CIF

Southern Section Division IV semifinal at third-seeded Chaminade.

It would be foolish, however, to expect the Eagles (21-4-4) to be

impressed, especially since the Mission League runner-up is riding a

streak of invincibility at least as lengthy -- in the playoffs alone.

“They’re undefeated the last four years in the playoffs,” CdM senior

Julia Livingston said of today’s hosts, who shared the Division IV title

last year, were co-champions in Division III in 1998 and won the Division

III crown outright in ’97.

“I think everyone on our team is a little nervous, but we’re ready to

step up to the occasion. We know if we play our best, we can end their

streak in front of their own fans.”

CdM fans, watching their team compete in the playoffs for the first time

since 1992, have already been treated to a memorable campaign.

First-year coach Ron Evans’ squad swept through the Pacific Coast League

without a loss to claim the championship and has outscored three playoff

foes, 9-1. CdM is within a victory of the school’s first section

title-game appearance in the sport.

“Everyone has picked up their personal game,” said Livingston, who will

shift from halfback to fullback, as Evans attempts to combat Chaminade’s

dangerous strikers.

“(Evans) saw Chaminade win its quarterfinal (2-0 over Mission League

rival Louisville) and he told us they have two very strong forwards, a

great sweeper, and a midfielder who really likes to push up,” Livingston

said. “He told us their whole game is through their forwards.”

Joining Livingston on the back line will be junior sweeper Molly O’Meara,

senior stopper Jessica Luchesi and freshman Paige Janes. They’ll all be

supporting junior goalie Britta Vogele, a first-team All-Sea View

performer last season who has helped the Sea Kings produce 12 shutouts.

CdM had blanked six straight opponents, until La Canada managed a goal in

a 2-1 quarterfinal verdict Thursday.

CdM, which last lost Jan. 4 in a nonleague match against Edison -- it’s

10-0-2 since -- has received playoff goals from six players, including

two each by freshman Elisha Morgan and sophomore Kristin Hanson.

Sophomore Allison Harvey, the team scoring leader, has also scored in the

postseason, as has senior Kelly Halley, Livingston and freshman Jennifer

Long.

Livingston acknowledges Chaminade, coached by Mike Evans, has an

advantage in terms of playoff experience. But she noted the Sea Kings,

many of whom compete for strong club teams, are used to a high level of

competition.

“At some point, almost all of us have played in a championship game of

some kind, in the Surf Cup or other club tournaments.”

Today’s winner will advance to Saturday’s final against either top-seeded

Harvard-Westlake (17-3-3) or unseeded Bishop Montgomery (21-5-3), which

tied Chaminade, 1-1, in last year’s title match.

The championship game will be held at either Cal State Fullerton or La

Mirada High, at a time to be determined.