Soccer: St. Lucy’s, Walnut play to a tie, 1-1

Note: These are games called into the newspaper, which you can do at 626-962-8811, Ext. 2233 or email to scores@sgvn.com. If you email, make sure to leave a contact number in case one of our reporters has questions.

Thursday’s Girls Soccer Results
Bishop Amat 1, South Hills 0 — Jasmine Rose scored the game-winner to help the Lancers remain undefeated, 11-0-3. South Hills dropped to 6-6-2.
Thursday’s Boys Soccer Results
Gladstone 3, Duarte 2 — Antonio Bernal scored two goals to help the Gladiators win and improve to 6-5-1.
Sierra Vista 5, Azusa 0 — Alfonso Espinosa scored twice and had an assist in the Dons’ easy victory over the Aztecs.
Workman 0, La Puente 0 – After 80 minutes and overtime, nothing was settled. The Lobos go to 3-3-2 while the Warriors go to 4-3-4. Both are 1-0-1 in league.


Above: St. Lucy’s Lynsey Brown smiling after scoring second-half goal

The week after New Year’s generally produces attractive nonleague games because tournament season is over and league starts the following week. First-year St. Lucy’s girls soccer coach Robert Rodrigues said the Regents were looking forward to Thursday’s nonleague encounter against Walnut since Christmas.
Walnut is not the power that won three CIF-SS championships this decade, but the Mustangs still are one of the Valley’s best teams. St. Lucy’s traditionally is tough as well, having last competed in a championship game in 2001. That made for a good crowd Thursday to watch how the teams measured up.
St. Lucy’s defender Lynsey Browne finished a beautiful header on a corner kick from Denni Joe Berger in the 61st minute. But Walnut’s Dana Catone scored in the 64th minute for the equalizer in game that fittingly ended in a 1-1 tie.
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“When you play a team with Walnut’s tradition and history, it’s a great measuring stick,” Rodrigues said. “I thought we played a good game and dominated as far as possession.

“It was frustrating because we feel like we deserved to win and were pushing in the end trying to get the game winner. But at the end of the day you have two very good teams that will both have pretty good shots of winning league titles.”

Browne not only is a phenomenal defender, but her height on set pieces makes her dangerous. After the Mustangs tied it, Browne almost scored off another corner kick in the 66th minute when her header just went wide.

St. Lucy’s (5-2-4) had other decent chances, but Mustangs centerbacks Marissa Woods and Nikki McKee did a good job disrupting the Regents’ passes in the final third.

“Lynsey is a great marking back, but yeah, she’s definitely a threat in the air,” Rodrigues said. “We would like to get her in on the attack a little more, but she’s so valuable in the back.

“But again, give Walnut some great. They’re a more physical team than they look, and they’re well-organized. Their back line did a terrific job making it difficult on us.”

Walnut’s (5-5-2) tying goal was a thing of beauty as well.

Krissy Slusser’s long throw-in to the middle of the penalty area was headed back by Megan Pierce and, off one bounce, Catone one-timed it with her left foot. Regents keeper Carley Pennington had no chance of making a save.

“Dana’s been on fire for us,” Mustangs coach Lorraine Hansen said. “She’s normally a starting defender, but she was struggling a little so we moved her to midfield against Claremont and she scored some goals, and we made her an attacking midfielder against Ayala and she scored twice, so she’s been a big spark. I think we found a home for her.”

Hansen wasn’t upset with the draw either.

The Mustangs had a rough time in difficult Christmas tournaments and after graduating so many talented players, including Tribune player of the year Nadia Link, they’re still experimenting with different combinations.

“I thought we had some good opportunities in the first half,” Hansen said. “For us to come back while I was shifting players back and forth trying to figure out different things was huge for their confidence.”

fred.robledo@sgvn.com

(626) 962-8811, Ext. 2161

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