Friday, November 8, 2024

LJ FH 1, Canyon Hills 0 - CIF Open Division quarterfinals

The Vikings' Leyla Yazici (left, 16) contests
Reese Roldan (27) of Canyon Hills 
in the Rattlers' half of the field.
(Photo by Ed Piper)


By Ed Piper

The Vikings slayed the dragon. At least one of them.

La Jolla, which had lived under the shadow of, not only Serra/Canyon Hills, but also Scripps Ranch--who both enjoyed decades-long dominance under long-time coaches who finally retired--beat the Rattlers 1-0 in an exciting Open Division quarterfinal match Thursday evening, Nov. 7.

The Vikes' Ella Cathalinat scored with 4:16 left in the first quarter, and Coach Amanda Combs Warford's defense made the lone goal stand up through the remaining three quarters.

Captain Pixie DeLeon, late in the second half, told her teammates that their side looked "dominant".

But the ball did spend considerable time in Canyon Hills' attacking half of the field. They just couldn't score against a stout backline of defense.

Freshman Adalee Branstetter started and played the entire game, with senior Kinsley Stephens out apparently on concussion protocol. Quite a playoff debut--blanking the former CIF power for a shutout.

Coach Kat Kievens stated before the match that one of her goals was "to score early". The Vikings frustrated that effort by keeping it from happening.

One Canyon Hills shot in the second half went off the left post, glancing away out of bounds. That was the only shot on goal that was close.

Goalie Adalee Branstetter's
brother showed up in
Viking horns.


No comments:

Post a Comment