Sage’s magical ride continues

Bryce Alderton

Sage Hill School girls soccer coach Amy Ray had chills following

Thursday’s CIF Southern Section Division VI quarterfinal against

visiting Desert Christian of Lancaster.

But it had nothing to do with the crisp afternoon weather.

The Lightning continued their stirring postseason run with a 2-1

come-from-behind victory over the fourth-seeded Knights, accounting

for Ray’s goose bumps.

“I’m so proud of them,” Ray said. “Since the beginning of the

season they have worked so hard and it’s all paid off. Everything is

clicking in the [CIF] playoffs. Our passing is right on and everyone

is learning together.”

Sage Hill (21-1-1), which claimed its first postseason victory in

the program’s five-year history against first-round foe Connelly Feb.

18, will go for its fourth straight playoff win against top-seeded

and visiting Arrowhead Christian in the semifinals at 3 p.m. Tuesday.

The Lightning, winners of five straight overall, earned that spot

with a keen offensive output against Desert Christian (20-4), playing

its second game in less than 24 hours. The Knights’ second-round

contest against host Alverno was bumped to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday due to

field scheduling difficulties, Knights’ Coach Debra Rondeau said.

Sage outshot the Knights, 22-8, including a 12-2 edge in the second half.

Sophomore Ali McLaughlin controlled a loose ball mere feet outside

the 18-yard box and lofted a shot into the net’s left corner for the

game-winning goal in the 72nd minute.

“I got a great pass and hit it as hard as I could into the

corner,” McLaughlin said of her first playoff goal this season. “We

are all trying to play with our hearts.”

Senior teammate Amy Werblin evened the game at 1 in the 22nd

minute with a goal off an assist from freshman Kellee Kim, one of six

Lightning freshmen.

Sage spent a majority of the game in the Knights’ zone, firing

shots seemingly at will.

“I want them to keep shooting, even if it’s outside the 18-yard

box,” Ray said. “Everyone has a great shot.”

Sophomore Emily Webb booted five of the Lightning’s 12 second-half

shots, including a point-blank attempt from five yards out that

Desert Christian goalkeeper Caitlyn Aikenhead deflected with her left

hand.

Aikenhead made six saves while Sage senior goalkeeper Laura Gordon

stopped four shots in addition to smothering several through balls

that trickled into the Lightning’s zone.

Gordon helped thwart Desert Christian’s final offensive burst in

the final minute when she ventured out well into the 18-yard box to

deter Haylie Oakleaf from taking a shot.

Freshman Robyn Estrada gave the Knights, playing without their

leading-goal scorer Megan Fike, a 1-0 lead less than two minutes into

the contest after receiving a cross from Jessica Wick during

transition. Fike served a one-game suspension after receiving a red

card in the second round.

“We knew [Estrada] was their main target so we put [senior]

Rebecca Gordon [player-to-player] on her,” said Ray, who scouted

Desert Christian’s previous game. “We knew [the Knights] like to move

the ball quickly to their forwards and not do a lot of dribbling.

They are a great team. It was a physical battle.”

Juniors Kelsey Rose and Grace Graham, and freshman Jules

McLaughlin, provided further defensive protection for the Lightning.

Werblin and Kara Percival, with Kim and freshman Claire Josephson

on the wings, helped key the Lightning’s passing, which Ray said has

improved with each game.

“Sage Hill was first to the ball,” Rondeau said. “Both teams were

evenly aggressive.”