The Matadores have a tremendous undertaking in the second of two area girls soccer championship games, going against juggernaut Mayfair.

Girls Soccer
Division III Championships

Unranked La Mirada (18-8-5) vs. No. 1 Mayfair (26-2-3)
at Warren High School, 8 p.m.

Initial Thoughts: Yikes! I know the championship game is supposed to be challenging but wow. It almost seems unfair to La Mirada, which had to pull off three different upsets to get here.

Why La Mirada will win –
Everybody loves an underdog and that’s what La Mirada is. The Matadores are not the same team that lost twice to Mayfair 5-1 and are playing their best ball of the season. As has been seen throughout the playoffs, different Mats have stepped up with big plays during their postseason run. It’s going to take a total team effort to win this game.

Why Mayfair will win –
Ultimately, the Monsoons just expect to reach the title game every year as this is their third straight visit. You can point to just about any position and Mayfair has strong talent. The Monsoons have been known to take it easy at times and relax but that’s not likely in the championship game.

La Mirada X-Factor:
The Mats need to score early and hold onto a lead. They need to be able to put some pressure on Mayfair. If they fall behind, they can’t give up either.

Mayfair X-Factor:
Talent. Whether it’s crisp passes or laser goals, the Monsoons are just difficult to beat. They do have a lot of size on La Mirada and will likely win the war in the air.

The pick: I hope La Mirada proves me wrong, but Mayfair 4-1.