By Miguel A. Melendez
Staff Writer
ARCADIA — Sometimes all a team needs is a little luck to squeeze out a victory and make a memorable run in the playoffs.
Unfortunately for the Arcadia High School girls soccer team, it wasn’t going to be them.
Harvard-Westlake’s first-half luck carried over into the second and it came out on top, 2-0, over the Apaches on Tuesday night in the second round of the CIF-Southern Section Division II playoffs.
Arcadia (17-6-2) couldn’t shake the fact that even a dominating team can come out on the losing end in soccer.
For most — if not all — of the match, the Apaches dominated the Wolverines (15-4-3) with consistent pressure up top, where most of the action seemed to be.
Harvard-Westlake had only four scoring chances and converted twice, albeit that Arcadia’s miscommunication afforded the Wolverines a 1-0 lead in the 29th minute.
Donilynn Hunter-Sallustio stayed on top of the play and flicked the ball past Apaches keeper Dana Lockie. It wasn’t clear if Lockie thought a defender would clear the ball, but by the time she realized that was not going to happen, the ball was on its way past her and into the net.
“Sometimes you have to have a little luck, and we definitely rode our luck,” Harvard-Westlake coach Richard Simms said. “We rode it all the way to the second half.”
Arcadia had a chance to tie the score 1-1 when it was awarded a penalty kick after Ann Marie Tangorra was taken down on a hard slide tackle inside the box.
Highly touted sophomore Vania Robles lined up to take the penalty kick, but her shot sailed over the crossbar, yet another break for the Wolverines.
“If I had a chance to do it again, I’d probably give (Tangorra) the ball,” Arcadia coach Nick Tangorra said. “She’s our leading scorer and she singlehandedly beat Valencia (in the first round last week).
“I didn’t give it to (Tangorra) and I trusted Vania (but she missed).”
Still, the Apaches had numerous opportunities.
Chloe Torres created many of those chances, along with Tangorra and Robles.
Torres’ volley off a deflection in the near post was blocked with less than 4 minutes left in the first half.
Robles’ relentless effort in the mouth of the goal was evident midway through the second half, but she twice missed the back of the net on shots that went inches wide of the post.
Joleen Pimentel’s precise pass to Tangorra created one of the better opportunities in the 66th minute. Tangorra successfully maneuvered past three defenders and got off a shot that was deflected to a charging Robles in the far post. But before she could get off a shot, keeper Clara Jaques grabbed the ball to stop the play.
miguel.melendez@sgvn.com
(626) 578-6300, Ext. 4485
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BOYS BASKETBALL
Tonight’s Results
DIVISION IV-A
Oaks Christian 66, La Salle 52: If a basketball team can get hot in the CIF-Southern Section playoffs, it can go a long way. La Salle High School was one of those teams. At least until Tuesday night. The Lancers ran into Oaks Christian, a hotter team and was eliminated in the Division IV-A quarterfinals. The host Lions shot 58.3 percent in the second half and pulled away for a 66-52 victory and a berth in Friday’s semifinals against Chaminade, which defeated Orange Lutheran, 71-70.
DIVISION VI-AA
Desert Christian 63, Rio Hondo Prep 51: Rio Hondo Prep’s boy’s basketball team gave top-seeded Desert Christian all they could ask for in the first half of their CIF Southern Section Division VI-AA quarterfinal game on Tuesday.
Unfortunatley for the Kares, foul trouble and an extended cold streak in the third quarter allowed Desert to pull away to a 63-51 victory. After taking a 36-34 lead on a three pointer from Ed Drain with 6:12 remaining in the third, the Kares failed to score again until the 5:50 mark of the fourth quarter. The Kares missed 14 straight field goals in the stretch. During Rio Hondo’s drought, the Conquerors went on a 21-0 run to take a 55-36 lead, behind 8 points from forward Nick Law, who finished with 14 points.
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GIRLS SOCCER
Today’s Results
DIVISION II
Saugus 1, Flintridge Sacred Heart 0
Harvard-Westlake 2, Arcadia 0
DIVISION IV
La Salle 2, San Gorgonio 0: Julia Barrero scored in the first four minutes and Samantha Cuerington’s blistering shot from 40 yards out in the 60th minute lifted the Lancers (16-7-5) in the Division IV playoffs. La Salle will play Cathedral City on Thursday in the quarterfinals. A coin flip today will determine the home site. Barrero’s goal came off a corner kick and scored from the top of the 18-yard box. Cuerington’s goal sailed over the keeper and into the net to give the Lancers the cushion.
DIVISION V
Maranatha 0, Paloma Valley 0 (Maranatha advances on penalties, 4-2): Minutemen keeper Michelle Cornell blocked the Wildcats’ first penalty attempt and Kimmie Sommers scored Maranatha’s first PK attempt to lead the Minutemen in the Division V playoffs. The Minutemen will play against South Torrance, which defeated San Marino, 4-0. A coin flip today will determine Thursday’s home site. Maranatha coach Jolie Robison said both teams attacked but neither got a shot on goal. “They dominated the middle of the field but our defense held them strong,” Robison said.
La Caada 1, Oak Park 0: Morgan Ritticher may wear Kelly Clark’s shoes the remainder of the soccer season. No matter that the cleats are 2 sizes too small. On Tuesday afternoon, the 8-sized shoes felt just right. Perfect, actually. Ritticher, who left her shoes at La Caada High School, used the borrowed shoes to score the lone goal and give the Spartans a surprising 1-0 victory over host Oak Park in the second round of the CIF-Southern Section Division V playoffs. How surprising was the win? The Eagles, the Tri-Valley League champions and the tournament’s fifth seed, controlled almost the entire game. They had eight corner kicks and took 33 shots. La Caada took two shots on goal. But Ritticher scored when the Eagles couldn’t.
South Torrance 4, San Marino 0
DIVISION VII
Alverno 11, St. Matthias 0: The Alverno High School girls soccer team went on the offensive Tuesday afternoon. The Jaguars led 10-0 at the half en route to an 11-0 win over St. Matthias in the second round of the CIF-Southern Section Division VII playoffs at Rio De Los Angeles State Park. Junior Jessica Capra recorded a hat trick and Ameenah Issa, Marina Lasse and Celina Minissian each scored two goals to lead the Jaguars (16-1-2). Alverno will play against Saddleback Valley Christian in Thursday’s quarterfinal match at Rio De Los Angeles State Park, which is about 20 minutes away from Alverno.
Animo Leadership 5, Duarte 0
