Girls soccer playoffs: Fabulous freshmen spur Oaks Christian into Division 2 semifinals
Oaks Christian School’s fabulous freshmen are maturing in the CIF-Southern Section girls soccer playoffs.
Freshman Avery Oder put freshman Charlotte Ward through on goal to score the game’s lone goal as the Lions edged visiting Redlands-Citrus Valley, 1-0, in the Division 2 quarterfinals Saturday night at Thorson Stadium.
“The girls are playing really good soccer,” Oaks Christian head coach Sebastian Alvarado said. “We haven’t given up a goal (in the playoffs). Defensively, we’re playing well.”
Oaks Christian, which entered the postseason without a playoff win in six years, is now headed to its first sectional semifinal since 2015, when it last reached a sectional final.
That’s with a starting 11 which includes six freshmen.
“These freshmen bought into our program and what we’re about,” Alvarado said.
Oaks Christian (17-1-4) will play at Rancho Cucamonga-Los Osos (14-5-1) in Wednesday’s semifinals.
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Freshman goalie Hannah Wieler kept her third straight clean sheet, protected by a defense led by sophomore Abby Seawright.
Defensive midfielder Berkley Mape helped keep Citrus Valley’s 30-goal striker Lindsey Chau, a University of San Francisco commit, off the scoresheet.
“Berkley did a really good job,” Alvarado said. “She did a really good job of defending the midfield and won a lot of headers for us.”
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After Citrus Valley had a handful of counter-attacking chances in the first half, Oaks Christian took the lead early in the second half on a full-field build started by defender Isa Wieder.
“Avery did a great job to put a through ball for Charlotte,” Alvarado said. “And then after that we defended.”
It was a big week for Ward, who also converted the decisive penalty kick Wednesday, when the Lions edged host West Ranch, 4-3, on PKs.
Oaks Christian is unbeaten in eight games since losing at Westlake on Jan. 18.
“It was a big spot for some of these freshmen and sophomores,” Alvarado said. “The moment was a little big for some of them, but we’ve matured. … Those were the type of games you grow from.”
Division 2
Newhall-Hart 1, Westlake 0: Top-seeded Westlake was eliminated after being shut out for the first time this season.
Hart took the lead in the 15th minute on a mistake at the back and made the goal stand up, despite a red card in the 66th minute.
“We played our hearts out,” Westlake head coach Frank Marino said. “It was probably the best we’ve played in two weeks and we lose. … It’s a bummer.”
Hart, which has only allowed 11 goals in 16 matches, fell to Westlake, 2-1, in November.
“Their goalkeeper had the game of her life,” Marino said. “She made save after save. … It was crazy.”
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The Marmonte League champion’s season will end at 15-2-1, unless it is accepted into the CIF State regionals field.
“It was a great season though,” Marino said. “I had the most fun I’ve had in a long time. We had a really tight-knit, connected group with tremendous leaders.”
Division 6
Redlands-Arrowhead Christian 2, Santa Clara 1: Alice Kok’s breakaway finish in the final minutes lifted top-seed Arrowhead Christian past the Saints.
“It was a good game,” Santa Clara head coach Jose Abraham Pina said. “It’s just unfortunate to lose at the end.”
Kok’s goal came immediately after Santa Clara couldn’t convert a three-on-one opportunity late.
“I’m just proud of the girls,” Pina said. “It was a good season. They gave me their all. That’s all I wanted.”
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Santa Clara pushed 19-1 Arrowhead Christian, which has outscored opponents by nearly 100 goals this season, all the way.
Sophomore Janessa Gonzalez scored the goal that kept Santa Clara (12-3-1) level until the final moments.
Fontana-AB Miller 3, Fillmore 1: Fillmore’s run to the quarterfinals ended, despite another goal from sophomore Marlene Gonzalez, who converted from the penalty spot.
The Flashes season ends at 10-6-4. It was Fillmore’s first quarterfinal appearance since winning the Division 7 title in 2018.
Division 7
Thacher 3, San Bernardino-Aquinas 2: Jordan Yates finished with two goals and an assist, Maddie Lee had a goal and Lily King made 10 saves as the top-seed Toads advanced to the semifinals.
After Aquinas climbed out of a 2-0 halftime hole, Yates scored the winning goal in the 68th minute by chipping a loose ball over the goalkeeper.
“We went up 2-0 in the first half,” said head coach AJ Yates. “It’s my least favorite lead in soccer.”
Thacher (13-1-1) will host Menifee-Santa Rosa Academy (10-4-4) in a semifinal match Wednesday.
Joe Curley covers soccer for The Star. He can be reached at joe.curley@vcstar.com. Follow him @vcsjoecurley on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Oaks Christian, Thacher earn CIF-SS semifinal girls soccer berths
