Girls soccer: Chaminade stops CdM’s run, 2-1

Joseph Boo

WEST HILLS - It didn’t matter if Pacific Coast League champion

Corona del Mar High’s girls soccer team was seeded No. 2 in the CIF

Southern Section Division IV playoffs and Mission League runner-up

Chaminade was No. 3.

The Sea Kings (17-5-4) were the upstarts, making their first playoff

appearance in eight years. Chaminade was the establishment, undefeated in

its last 20 playoff games, Division IV co-champions last year with Bishop

Montgomery, and aiming for its third straight title.

The young CdM upstarts almost pulled off the coup Tuesday at Chaminade.

The Sea Kings outshot the Eagles 19-6 but fell short, 2-1, keeping CdM

from its first-ever championship game.

“They’re a hell of a squad,” CdM Coach Ron Evans said about his troops.

“In my heart, they’re winners.”

The Sea Kings did everything right to win the game, as well. CdM took

out Chaminade’s powerful offense by forcing the Eagles (22-4-4) to play

defense.

But Chaminade’s Tara Donoghue made the most of her team’s limited

opportunities. Her first goal in the 18th minute came luckily when she

chipped the ball across CdM’s goal on an attempted pass. But the ball

caught the right corner of the goal for the Eagles’ first goal.

Donoghue’s second goal was a response to CdM knocking U.S. Junior

National Team member Kelly Lavery out of the game for 14 minutes. The

Eagles swamped CdM’s defense until Donoghue scored on an empty net in the

26th minute.

“We outshot them 10-5 in the first half,” Evans said. “But we gave up a

couple of early goals, and that took us out a bit.”

After the two goals, Chaminade held on for dear life as CdM’s offense

revved up. CdM got good shots on goals from forwards Kate Simon and

Allison Harvey. Meanwhile, the Eagles got one measly shot for the rest of

the game as they were pinned in their defensive end.

CdM fullbacks Molly O’Meara, Paige Janes, Jessica Luchesi and converted

halfback Julia Livingston effectively disrupted Chaminade’s offense. And

CdM goalie Britta Vogele made four saves.

The Sea Kings got on the scoreboard two minutes in the second half from a

penalty kick. On a throw-in, CdM’s Kristin Hanson was pushed down in the

penalty box, and Janes converted the ensuing kick.

The score energized CdM and maintained its attack. In the 79th minute, a

wild melee broke out in front of Chaminade’s goal. In a pile of blue CdM

jerseys, Chaminade goalie Katie Thomas came away with the ball and

stifled CdM’s best chance to tie.

Three minutes later, a thankful Chaminade team was advancing to its

fourth consecutive championship game. But CdM should not wait eight years

to take another crack at its first girls soccer championship. The Sea

Kings only lose three starters to graduation next year, making for a

bright future.

“We’ll be back,” Evans promised.

Chaminade 2, Corona del Mar 1

CdM scoring - Janes. Saves: Vogele 4.

Chaminade scoring - Donoghue 2. Saves: Thomas 3.

Halftime: Chaminade, 2-0.