Lightning girls lone seed among locals

CIF soccer pairings storySage Hill seeded fourth in Division VI. CdM, Costa Mesa, Estancia (girls), and CdM, Sage, Estancia (boys) also in the playoffs.The Sage Hill School girls’s team was not among the two Newport-Mesa soccer teams to win league championships this season. But Coach Amy Ray’s Lightning are the lone seeded team among the seven local boys’ and girls’ squads that will compete in the CIF Southern Section playoffs.

The Sage girls (17-3-1), who finished second in the Academy League, are the No. 4 seed in Division VI. They will play host to Tarbut V’Torah (12-3-2) in the first round Saturday.

The Costa Mesa High girls (16-3-2), who captured their fourth straight Golden West League title and will leave the league next season with a perfect 48-0 mark in four seasons, are at home for a Division III first-round clash with Cerritos (13-7) Saturday.

The Sage Hill boys’ team that won the Academy League crown takes a 9-4-5 record into Friday’s meeting with the winner of Wednesday’s Division VI wild-card game between Oak Park and Cate.

The Lightning boys were 7-0-3 in league, edging defending champion Oxford Academy (7-1-2) and St. Margaret’s (7-2-1).

The Estancia boys, who finished third in the Golden West League with a 7-4-1 record, are the lone area team involved in the wild-card round. The Eagles will visit La Habra Wednesday in Division III action.

A victory would move the Eagles into Friday’s first round against No. 2-seeded California (15-1-3).

The Corona del Mar boys and girls both qualified in Division II.

The CdM girls (13-8-2), who finished third in the Pacific Coast League, are at Chaparral (17-2-6), the Southwestern League champion, in a first-round clash Saturday.

The Sea Kings boys (10-8-3), who were fourth in league, will visit Sea View League champion and No. 4-seeded Woodbridge (16-4-2) Friday.

The Estancia girls, whom first-year coach Steve Crenshaw said are making their first postseason appearance in 11 seasons, visit La Mirada Saturday for a Division III first-round contest.

All games are scheduled for 3 p.m., but changes will invariably occur, particularly with Saturday games, as the schools coordinate with one another.

The Sage Hill girls reached the Division VI semifinals a year ago, before falling to eventual champion Arrowhead Christian, 2-0.

The Costa Mesa girls, the last Newport-Mesa squad to earn a CIF title -- sharing the Division III crown in 2002-03 -- advanced to the Division III quarterfinals last season.

The Corona del Mar girls lost a 2-1 decision in double overtime to El Dorado in last year’s first round and the CdM boys were eliminated in sudden-death overtime, 2-1, by Chaparral in last season’s first round.

The Sage Hill boys saw last season come to a close with a 2-0 second-round loss to Bishop Union in Division VI play.

Costa Mesa girls’ coach Dan Johnston, in his 14th season, will rely on senior standouts Jasmin Day, Sharon Frazier and Kyla Flores.

Sophomore Kellee Kim was a first-team All-CIF Division VI performer last season for the Sage Hill girls.

The CdM girls are led by seniors Kelly Morgan, Jessica Mazura and Taylor Fallon.

Estancia’s girls have been led by sophomores Stacy McDaniels and Jennifer Thomas, as well as senior Marina Abdul.