By Scott French
Khalalah Todd couldn’t find many opportunities Thursday, but what she did with the two that came her way made all the difference for Northview High School’s girls soccer team. Todd scored goals early in both halves and the Vikings held off a San Dimas onslaught for nearly all of the second half and 20 minutes of overtime to post an improbable 2-2 draw with the Valle Vista League’s reigning power. (To continue reading, click thread)
Shannon McKee and Lindsey Toneck scored six minutes apart late in the first half for the Saints (7-3-2 overall, 1-0-1 league), whose 15-game league winning streak dating to January, 2008 came to an end when they couldn’t convert on more than a dozen decent chances.
“That was frustrating,” San Dimas coach Kelly Kocalis said. “The whole second half of the game we dominated, and both overtimes. I know the girls are kind of bummed out, but we have another chance with them.”
Northview (9-4-1, 1-0-1), the Saints’ primary challenger in league, will be home for the Feb. 2 rematch.
Todd, a speedy junior forward, netted her 36th and 37th goals of the season despite constant interference from San Dimas’ central defenders, especially freshman Abi Celaya, the most impactful player on the field.
Todd, marked from the start by Celaya and either Sabrina DeFreitas-Santos or Lauren Toneck, got free twice. She split two defenders on the flank in the 34th minute, but her shot was no challenge for Saints keeper Rachel Jones.
She finished the next time by scoring past an onrushing Jones in the 53rd minute when Alyssia Fuentes’ through ball opened a path to the Saints’ penalty area.
“(San Dimas’ center backs) stayed with me the whole time,” said Todd, who had her 10th multigoal game of the season and 20th of her prep career. “It was really hard on the breakaway to get through them. I give them credit. They’re really good.”
Kocalis knew Celaya was special the first time she saw her.
“When she came out to trials, I said there’s no way we can’t put her on varsity,” Kocalis said. “She’s out of sight. She’s crazy good.”
Todd, who finished a long throw-in from Jade Vehawn the Saints failed to clear to give Northview a lead in the second minute, has 72 career goals. She’s the top goalscorer this season in the CIF-Southern Section and is No. 2 in the state and nation.
San Dimas relied on Jeanette Jimenez’s ability to deliver space-opening passes to create an attack in the first half. Northview switched to a more defensive formation after halftime that allowed the Saints more time with the ball but fewer openings to the goal.
San Dimas pulled even in the 36th minute. Kylie Brown’s throw-in up the wing slipped through to Erika Kalmor, who took the ball to the penalty area. Northview keeper Carol Garcia saved the shot, but McKee pounced on the rebound and knocked it home.
Lindsey Toneck made it 2-1 in stoppage by rolling the ball just inside the goal post after a diagonal feed from Vanessa Trujillo.
There were more chances to come, but the Saints fired off-target or straight at Garcia. Kalmor had the best chance in going 1-on-1 against Garcia at the end of regulation. The left-footer shot with her right foot. Garcia made the stop.
Jimenez nearly bent in two corner kicks, but Fuentes and Amber Viloria headed them off the goal line.
