CIF-SS PLAYOFFS
TODAY’S GAMES, 3 P.M.
QUARTERFINALS
DIVISION 5
Salesian 1, La Caada 0, OT — Jose Espinoza scored on a volley that slipped past the keeper to lift Salesian to a 1-0 win in the quarterfinals of the CIF-Southern Section Division 5 playoffs Thursday afternoon. Salesian (18-4-2) will host Baldwin Park in a rematch of last year’s Division 5 championship game. Jovani Zayas provided the assist three minutes into the overtime. The goal seemed inevitable as the visiting Mustangs pressured up top in the final 10 minutes of the second half. La Caada (23-3-1) was making its second straight quarterfinal appearance. The Spartans were ousted in PK’s by Baldwin Park last year. La Caada had a great season and should hold its head up high. This game certainly provided a finals atmosphere as it was played in front of the largest La Caada soccer crowd this season. The Spartans lost to a team that has won two of the last three Division 5 championships; Salesian won the CIF Southern California Regional two years ago. Cameron Meeker and Matt Cannata wowed soccer aficionados with precision and spectacular scoring; Meeker finished the season with 33 goals and 13 assists and Cannata had 24 goals and 12 assists.
DIVISION 6
Pasadena Poly 0, Tahquitz 0 (Pasadena Poly wins on PK’s, 3-0): Pasadena Poly keeper Matt Morrish made one huge PK save in regulation and stopped three more during penalties to lead the Panthers to a 3-0 win on PK’s over Tahquitz after a scoreless tie. Morrish also scored one of the Panthers’ 3 penalties to earn the win. Pasadena Poly will visit Mountain View in the semifinals next Tuesday.
Oak Hills 3, Maranatha 0: Oak Hills took advantage of the long ball and scored a goal in the first 10 minutes of each half to pull away for the win. This was Maranatha’s deepest playoff run since making a finals appearance in 1997. The Minutemen accomplished their goal of bringing home the school’s first Alpha League title in more than a decade.
