Results matching “bilowitz” from High School Sports Blog -- From The Sidelines with Miguel Melendez

Freshmen, freshmen, freshmen.

Ninth-graders can be a boon or boondoggle to a program. They'll make those "rookie" mistakes, but they also can make plays that can result in upset victories just because they do not know any better.

The west San Gabriel Valley is awash in top freshmen girls soccer talent this season. Some teams are going with three and four at a time.

Besides, by the time playoffs start, they're not truly freshmen players anymore. And best of all, they'll eventually be four-year starters. That could be very good news when it's time to go out of the Valley to face other Southern California teams when it is playoff time.

No. 1 Alverno

The Jaguars lost only two players from a team that handily won a CIF-Southern Section Division VII title last season.

Alverno would like to prove to the naysayers the Jaguars are one of the area's best.

"We have a much tougher schedule," head coach Ken Berry said. "No one was sure about Division VII last season; it was a whole new division."

The Jaguars, who outscored opponents 24-3 in the playoffs, opened the season No. 1 in the division.

Junior midfielder Maha Abdallah, senior forward Jessica Capra, sophomore forward Celina Minissian, junior defender Gabby Vasquez and senior midfielder Briana Alvarado give the Jaguars experience. Freshman Devny Osuna will play a top role on defense.

CLICK ON THREAD TO CONTINUE READING TOP 10

GIRLS SOCCER ALL-AREA TEAM
Player of the Year: Sinead Fleming
School: Flintridge Sacred Heart
Year: Senior
Position: Defender
This season: The University of New Mexico-bound defender helped the Tologs to their first Mission League title. They finished 16-5-4, reaching the second round of the CIF-Southern Section Division II playoffs. She had two goals and three assists, but was instrumental in helping Sacred Heart to 14 shutouts.
What she said: "It was a challenge to lead practically a whole new team, but it was exciting because we won league for the first time. We all worked together and it was a team effort.

Coach of the Year: Louie Bilowitz
School: La Cañada
Years: Fifth
This season: The Spartans returned only three starters but they won the Rio Hondo League title and reached the CIF-Southern Section Division IV quarterfinals. They had a 16-5-2 record.
What he said: "It was not just Louie Bilowitz. You have to give credit to the girls and our coaching staff (Josh Henderson and Cameron Melle).

FIRST TEAM
GK Michelle Cornell (Maranatha) Sr.
F Vania Robles (Arcadia) So.
F Ann Marie Tangorra (Arcadia) Sr.
F Kelly McCloskey (San Marino) Sr.
MF Pip Harrigin (Flintridge Sacred Heart) Sr.
MF Maha Abdallah (Alverno) So.
MF Paige Dyrek (Mayfield) Jr.
MF Marina Lesse (Alverno) Sr.
MF Samantha Whitehead (La Salle) So.
D Grace Birkenbeuel (Westridge) Sr.
D Kelly Clark (La Cañada) Jr.

CLICK THREAD FOR SECOND TEAM

Above: Samantha Whitehead's tremendous speed was matched by Cathedral City's team speed. The Lancers lost in penalties, 4-1. (Photo courtesy of John Blackstock)

TODAY'S QUARTERFINALS RESULTS

DIVISION IV
Cathedral City 2, La Salle 2 (Cathedral City wins on PK's, 4-1): Seemingly, nothing could go wrong for the La Salle High School girls soccer team in the first half. But then came the second half. Playing a little too relaxed and underestimating Cathedral City's relentless effort proved to be costly for the Lancers. The Lions powered their way back from a two-goal deficit in the first half to tie the game in regulation and eventually winning, 4-1, on penalty kicks after a 2-2 tie Thursday afternoon in the quarterfinals of the CIF-Southern Section Division IV playoffs. The tide had seemingly turned shortly after Cathedral City (16-5-5) got to within 2-1 in the 55th minute. It had been quite some time before the Lions were consistently adding pressure in the final third and it was only a matter of time until Emily Boffa scored on a left-foot volley off a Maria Grbavac corner kick. And after Boffa's goal there was a significant change in mood on the field. When the teams got back in formation to re-start play, the Lions looked much more loose and the Lancers (15-7-5) appeared tight. Cathedral City's overall team speed eventually wore down La Salle, and that couldn't have been more evident when Jessie LaFrance split two defenders and sent a shot past the keeper and into the far post to tie the game, 2-2, in the 71st minute.

DIVISION V
South Torrance 2, Maranatha 0: When the final whistle blew, the Maranatha High School girls soccer team slowly limped off the field. For 80 minutes, the Minutemen sacrificed their bodies. Kimmie Sommers' tears from immense lower back pain -- and an even tougher loss to swallow -- was proof of that. For 80 minutes, Maranatha ran in long stretches and showed glimpses of its ability to at times keep up with the much faster South Torrance team. Jessica Austin did her best to keep the large crowd in the game. They battled to the bitter end and when it was all over, the Minutemen were spent after leaving every ounce of energy on the field. Maranatha's 2-0 loss in the quarterfinals of the CIF-Southern Section Division V playoffs Thursday night was not indicative of how close the Minutemen came from limping away with smiles on their faces instead of tears. But the harsh reality was that the Aztecs (21-3-5) countered well and their team speed trumped that of Maranatha's (16-7-5). There was little South Torrance couldn't do. They not only ran past defenders but also matched every bit of intensity and physicalness Maranatha exhibited.

El Segundo 2, La Cañada 0: The visiting Eagles (19-4-1) proved to be too athletic, scoring a goal in each half to beat the Spartans (16-5-2) in the Division V playoffs. La Cañada played exceptional the first 15 minutes but it all ended when senior forward Caroline Na suffered a knee injury and had to be carted off the field. And with the Spartans' catalyst no longer in the game, El Segundo gained momentum and limited La Cañada's scoring opportunities. "We were the best team for the first 15 minutes," Spartans coach Louie Bilowitz said. "We played great soccer and had four great shots, two of which hit the cross bar. We lost control of the game with (Na's) injury."
Bilowitz, who has coached soccer for 25 years including the last six as the Spartans coach, said he was extremely proud of his girls since La Cañada last season was ousted in the first round. "Nobody expected this team to get as far as they did," he said. "This is the first team that doesn't have two or three dominant players. With this team, the reason I love it so much, is because they share the ball. "They're not looking for the star player. Everybody's participating and there were no egos involved. It's just been a wonderuful team to coach and I was very honored to have coached this team."

DIVISION VII
Alverno 6, Saddleback Valley Christian 1: Senior Jessica Capra scored two second-half goals to lead the Alverno High School girls soccer team to a 6-1 win over Saddleback Valley Christian on Thursday afternoon in the quarterfinals of the CIF-Southern Section Division VII playoffs. The second-seeded Jaguars (17-1-2) will play the CAMS-St. Paul winner in Tuesday's semifinals, at a site to be determined. Capra scored in the 76th and 77th minute to give Alverno 4-1 and 5-1 leads.

I wouldn't know what it's like to be a parent, and I don't know that I want to. But I can only wonder how most parents spend their holidays. I know I've spent most of my major holidays covering major sporting events (like the Rose Bowl) but for the first time this season I will have Christmas day off. While most families take vacations I will be covering holiday tournaments as I'm sure most of you will be attending (as if you had a choice) your son and/or daughter's basketball or soccer tournaments. But unlike just about every high school varsity team in the area, the La Cañada High School girls soccer team will not be taking part in a holiday tournament. La Cañada coach Louie Bilowitz has had it that way since 1994 when he realized that his son's senior year would probably be the last time they could all take a vacation. Since then, Bilowitz has opted to not play in holiday tournaments, realizing most families would rather take the holiday break to vacation as a family, perhaps for the last time before the kids head off to college. "I've coached the girls now for five years and coached the boys for 15 years," Bilowitz said. "When my son was a senior in high school in 1994 I realized that he was going to be going to college and summer he'd be with friends and that was the last time we were going to be with him." The parents were not only receptive to the idea but appreciative. So where will you be this holiday break?

Above: Flintridge Sacred Heart will be led by, from left to right, Samantha Norton, Pip Harragin, Bianca Garoian, Sinead Fleming and Isabelle Johnson.

They're back.

Some of the West San Gabriel Valley's best high school soccer players return for their senior seasons. Their junior and sophomore years, too.

It's a time of optimism and a time to build in preparation for the start of league play and the CIF-Southern Section playoffs.

Last year, the best playoff finish was made by La Salle, which reached the quarterfinals.

A look at the Top 10:

NO. 1 FLINTRIDGE SACRED HEART -- It's about the young and old.

The Tologs return eight seniors. They also have eight incoming freshmen on the roster. Only one player from last season's JV team, which went 14-3, made it to the varsity squad this season.

"The best players play, regardless of class," co-coach Frank Pace said. "We have a lot of really good freshmen."

The Tologs, who went 12-7-4 but lost in the first round of the CIF-SS Division I playoffs last season, return a defense that has had 21 shutouts in the last two seasons. That includes Sinead Fleming and Pip Harragin. Fleming has signed a national letter of intent to play at New Mexico next season. Harragin has signed with UC Davis.

Senior Samantha Norton and sophomore Natalie Zeenni, who transferred from Arcadia, are also on defense. Junior Danielle Molina is back at defensive midfield. Junior Dominique Oro returns to goalie, but she is being pushed by two players. Senior Catherine Yonai was supposed to be the starter last season, but she had shoulder surgery and missed the season. Freshman Lindsey Espe is also challenging for playing time.

"We really like competition at every position," Pace said. "It makes our team better."

Among the newcomers is freshman midfielder Tera Trujillo, who is a member of the U.S. Under-15 national team, and forwards Katie Johnson and Breena Koemans.

But they could be struggling to find playing time, even though the Tologs lost All-Area Player of the Year Carter Vettese. Senior Isabelle Johnson is back; she was the second-leading scorer behind Vettese. Senior Bianca Garoian also returns.

Pace shares the coaching duties with Kathy Desmond, who is entering her 14th year with the program.

Avesyan, Boyd have La Canada thinking CIF title

Above: La Canada's Colleen Boyd, left, and Nancy Avesyan. (Staff Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz.)

Maranatha girls looking to have even bigger season than 2006-07