February 22, 2008

GIRLS SOCCER: Griffins fall to Aliso Niguel 2-1 in quarterfinals

The Los Alamitos Girls soccer team quest for a CIF title came to a crashing thud in a 2-1 loss to Aliso Niguel on Friday afternoon at the victors' field.

While Aliso scored on two early first half corner kick headers with a heavy prevailing wind behind them, they basically outplayed Los Al for most of the match and earned the victory outright.

Los Al tried to rally, and had some oportunities in the second half, but just couldn't put the pieces together until stoppage time when Katie Suits sent a cross that was volleyed into the net by Lauren Ingram (left).

Los Al played without freshman Shannelle Simien who was attending a US Youth Soccer ODP (Olympic Development Program) training week in Pomona. As in the regular season loss to Esperanza (which Simien also missed due to an ODP committment), her absence (especially her speed which allowed her to turn the corner and stretch defenses) allowed opponents to focus on Suits and give her little room to maneuver.

But Aliso was playing without their star forward Rachel Wood, so they didn't have all their weapons either.

Despite the loss, it was another good season for Los Al, which finished with a 20-6-3 mark and recorded their 11th league championship. It was the last game for the Griffin seniors, and four year Varsity members Katie Suits and Greer Wilk who were part of three league championships (2005, 2007, 2008), a CIF and national championship team (2005).

February 20, 2008

GIRLS SOCCER: Los Al downs Harvard-Westlake 5-0, will play at Aliso Niguel in Friday quarterfinals

Sophomore Ari Carillo scored two goals to lead the Los Al Girls soccer team to a 5-0 win over Harvard-Westlake 5 in a second round CIF Division I playoff match -0 Thursday afternoon.

Los Al will now play Aliso Niguel, 1-0 winners over Santa Margarita, in the quarterfinals on Friday at Aliso Niguel.

Although Aliso has lights and would probably prefer a 5:00 pm start, Los Al will probably choose to play the game at the standard 3:00 start time.

Katie Suits scored the Griffins' first goal, about six minutes into the game on a penalty kick, after being taken down in the box.

Carillo scored next, converting a beautiful running header off a cross from freshman Shannelle Simien. Carillo added another just before the half, kicking in a loose ball after a Katie Suits corner kick.

In what seemed an exceptionally flat second half for both teams, senior Melanie Green made things even worse for Harvard-Westlake when she kicked in a rebound for a goal.

Freshman Adriana Gjonovich finished the scoring for Los Al late in the game.

Griffin goalkeeper Jordan Santos recorded her 15th shutout of the season.

Los Al improved its season record to 20-5-3. Earlier in the season they beat Aliso Niguel 4-0 in the Mater Dei Tournament.

• CIF Playoff brackets

February 16, 2008

GIRLS SOCCER: Suits goal in OT gives Griffins 3-2 win over Lakewood; Los Al hosts Harvard-Westlake on Wednesday

Katie Suits showed why she is the Sunset League Player of the Year, scoring her second goal of the afternoon two minutes into the first sudden death overtime to give Los Al a 3-2 win over Lakewood in a first round CIF girls soccer playoff match at Laurel School on Saturday afternoon.

The Griffins now will play Harvard-Westlake on Wednesday afternoon in a second round match. Los Al won the coin flip Sunday morning at the CIF office and will be the home team.

Suits goal ended an exciting, but potentially nightmarish match played before approximately 400 Griffin fans which saw the Griffins rally from a 2-1 deficit early in the second half.

Knowing they couldn't match the Griffins firepower, Lakewood came out in a 5-4-1 defensive scheme, utilizing a flat back four with a sweeper tucked in behind the first four defenders.

Griffin coaches Steve Soler and Brent Whitfield both said they had never seen anything like it.

"You sacrifice a lot of offense with that formation, but they did what they felt they had to do and it almost worked," added Soler.

Despite the scheme, Los Al jumped on top early when Suits took a pass from Greer Wilk and fired a goal into the right side of the net.

Los Al continued to put the pressure on, and had a number of near misses, but Lakewood, which had only two shots all day, scored on both of them. The first came late in the first half when a failed clear fell to the feet of Lakewood's Kassidy Hause who popped a looping shot 40-yard shot just over the reach of Griffin keeper Jordan Santos to tie the game going into the half.

Things got sticky for Los Al when Hause popped another long looper over Santos' head early in the second half.

But Los Al kicked up the pressure and continued to get off shots, finally converting when Wilk took a ball into the corner and sent a cross to the six yard box that junior Lauren Ingram volleyed in to tie the game.

Los Al kicked up the pressure even more, and had the ball in front of the Lakewood net many times, but there were too many legs between the ball and the goal. It continued that way through the first two 10-minute overtime periods, and then into the first sudden death overtime until Annie Wethe sent a pass into the box where Suits took it right around the penalty kick mark, turned to her left to get just enough of an angle to fire a shot that the Lakewood goalie dove and somehow managed to get her hands on it but watched roll tantalizingly just inside the left post and into the Griffin win column.

Santos, who had already recorded 14 shutouts for the Griffins this year, had earlier in the week took a smack in the face in practice and had some blurry vision was seeing spots for a few days, but was cleared by doctors to play for the game. After the game she took the blame on the goals, but Soler would have none of it. "Jordan said when the balls were coming at her, they kind of split and she was seeing two balls, and couldn't quite focus. But both were tough goals to stop, and that first one's coming out of the sun. Even if she was at her healthiest, those were tough shots to stop." Although Santos came out of this match after giving up the second goal, Soler added that if she's healthy, she would start the next game. "She's our keeper, and she's the best around. She'll be there."

Los Al will now host Harvard-Westlake in 2nd round action on Wenesday. H-W downed San Marcos 3-1 on Saturday.

photos at DavePeetersphoto.com

Long Beach Wilson 2, West Torrance 0
El Toro 3, Orange Lutheran 0

Los Osos 2, Edison 1
Buena 0, Chaminade 0 (Buena advances on penalty kicks, 4-3)

Aliso Niguel 2, Palos Verdes 1 (sudden death)
Santa Margarita 1, Chino Hills 0 (2OT)

Harvard-Westlake 3, San Marcos 1
Los Alamitos 3, Lakewood 2 (OT)

San Clemente 2, Etiwanda 1
Long Beach Poly 3, St. Lucy's 2 (2OT)


Dos Pueblos 3, Flintridge Sacred Heart 2
Marina 3, Northwood 2

Mater Dei 1, Tesoro 1 (Mater Dei advances on penalty kicks, 4-3)
Mira Costa 4, Foothill 2

Ayala 1, Upland 0
Esperanza 6, Millikan 0 (Saturday)

February 14, 2008

Griffins' Katie Suits named Sunset League Player of the Year

Los Al senior Katie Suits has had one good February so far, being named Queen of Courts, signing a letter of intent to play soccer at UC Berkeley, and now being selected as the Sunset League Girls Soccer Player of the Year.

Suits topped a list of 12 Griffins who earned post-seaons honors. Joining her on the first team are seniors Annie Wethe, Greer Wilk and Jordan Santos, junior Katie Peterson and freshman forward Shannelle Simien.

Earning second team honors were senior Melanie Greene, junior Jessa Yukihiro and sophomore Ariana Carillo.

Three Griffins also earned Honorable Mention -- seniors Jessa Kaub and Jazmyne Bacani and sophomore Shannon Ward.

Also earning a post-season dust collector was coach Steve Soler who shared the Coach of the Year trophy with Esperanza coach Jason King.

February 13, 2008

SOCCER: Boys open CIF Playoffs Friday against Bell Gardens, Girls face Lakewood on Saturday

The CIF Division I soccer playoffs begin this weekend with both Los Al teams drawing home matches and decent draws.

The Griffin boys begin play on Friday at Laurel High School against Bell Gardens, the No. 2 team in the Almont League. Bell Gardens finished with a 12-4-4 record.

If the boys win they would play next Tuesday against the winner of the Chino Hills-Harvard-Westlake game. Chino won the Sierra League and H-W was No. 3 in the Mission League.

The Boys were ranked No. 7 in the final CIF Boys Div I rankings despite their 20-4-3 record and co-championship of the Sunset League, but that was most likely due to a schedule which saw them play only one Division I Top 10 team.

Like the Boys the Los Al Girls were co-champions of the Sunset League, but lost via the tie-breaker route the league's top spot in the playoffs.

So, the girls as the Sunset No. 2 entry will host Lakewood, the No. 3 team in the Moore League. Lakewood brings a 13-8-2 mark into the match. Los Al finished the season with an 18-5-3 overall record, 8-2 in league. If Los Al wins, they will play the winner of the Harvard-Westlake vs. San Marcos match.

Despite their league No. 2 spot, the Griffins still earned a No. 4 overall seed which means that theoretically to reach the finals, they will have to go through Aliso Niguel or Santa Margarita and No. 1 seed Wilson.

Los Al defeated Aliso 4-0 in the Mater Dei tourney, split 1-0 games with Santa Margarita and lost 1-0 to Wilson in the second game of the year in a match that was very equal with the game's only goal coming on a misplayed pass that gave a Wilson player an open shot from about 25 yards out, which she converted for the win.

• CIF Girls Soccer Playoff Brackets
• CIF Boys Soccer Playoff Brackets

February 7, 2008

Simien's goal gives Los Al 1-0 victory, and a share of Sunset League title for sixth time

Freshman Shannelle Simien's second half goal, and a high-pressure Los Al attack was enough to lead the Griffins to a 1-0 victory over Esperanza and split the championship with the Aztecs.

The league championship is the second straight for Los Al and the Griffins' fourth in five years. It is also their sixth Sunset League title since they and Esperanza were moved to the league in 1995. Combined with their five Empire League titles, Los Al (8-2 in league, 18-5-3 overall) has claimed 11 league crowns in their 27 year soccer history.

Simien's goal came six minutes into the second half when senior Greer Wilk sent a thru pass up the middle and Simien outran and outmaneuvered the Esperanza defenders to the ball, then fired a line drive past the Aztec keeper for the score.

While the Griffins kept the ball on the Aztec side of the field most of the contest, Esperanza did mount a couple charges in the second half but Griffin keeper Jordan Santos came up big on four occasions. The shutout was the Griffins 15th this season, the third best total in school history. They have allowed only 13 goals to date, which currently ties them with the 1986-87 and 1998-99 teams for the second stingiest defense all-time.

Both Los Al and Esperanza will share the title of league co-champions, but since both teams split 1-0 victories and other tie breakers kept the teams still tied, a coin toss after the game gave Esperanza the league's No. 1 seed in the upcoming CIF playoff which will be announced Monday.

Being the league second seed really shouldn't matter much. They just have to be placed lower than Esperanza -- which will have to be one of the top four seeds. Our guess is that after the CIF powers that be place the "first place" teams in their required by rule positions, the Griffins placement and opponent will in effect make it the equivalent of a No. 4 or 5 seed.

	OC Register story
	Game stats

Senior Day photos

(Above) After the Griffins defeated Esperanza 1-0 and earned a share of the Sunset League titles, the team and parents celebrated Senior Day for the seven seniors who played their final regular season home soccer match. Standing in the back row are seniors (l-r) Jazmyne Bacani, Greer Wilk, Jessica Kaub, Jordan Santos, Katie Suits, Annie Wethe and Melanie Greene.

February 5, 2008

Griffins down Newport 4-0 to set up showdown with Esperanza

The Los Al Lady Griffins spread the wealth around -- getting four goals from four players -- and downed Newport Harbor 4-0 Tuesday evening to set up a Thursday showdown with Esperanza -- with a share of the Sunset League at stake.

The Griffins got goals from Ari Carillo, Katie Suits, Shannelle Simien and Greer Wilk and assists from Katie Peterson and Lauren Ingram in the win which improved their league mark to 7-2 and their overall record to 17-5-3. Goalkeeper Jordan Santos (left) had three saves while posting another shutout, her 14th on the season.

That record still leaves them one game behind arch-rival Esperanza which defeated Edison on Tuesday to remain a game ahead of Los Al. The two teams -- which are currently ranked No. 1 and 2 in Orange County by the OC Register -- will meet Thursday at 3pm at Laurel School in the regular season finale for both teams. Esperanza won the first match between the two teams, prevailing 1-0 on a free kick goal.

Hopefully providing extra incentive will be the Senior Day celebrations for seven Grffins -- starters Suits, Wilk, Annie Wethe, Melanie Greene, Jazmyne Bacani, Jessica Kaub and Jordan Santos.

Suits goal gives her nine on the season and 21 in her four year career, tying her for sixth place all-time with Cyndi Tredway and one behind Nicole Mularkey's 22. Her team-leading nine assists give her 23 for her career -- one behind former teammate Bo Medina. Suits career point total is now at 65 -- seventh on the all time records list.

Santos has now been part of 14 shutouts, which ties her and the team for third best in on the Griffin single season record books (behind the 1990-91 squad with 19 shutouts and the 1998-99 team which posted 18 blanks.)

OC Register box score

February 2, 2008

Marina rallies to dash Griffin title hopes

Despite being outshot and out-pressured by a large margin, Marina scored two second half goals off free kick set pieces to defeat the Los Al Griffins girls soccer team 2-1 Saturday morning at Marina,

The loss drops the Griffins record to 6-2 (16-5-3 overall) and leaves them a game behind Esperanza going into the final week of the season. Los Al finishes off league play at Newport Harbor on Tuesday and then hosts Esperanza in the season finale.

The game, which was a make-up for a match rained out last Monday, started out well for the Griffin with Katie Suits scoring about 25 minutes into the match after taking the pass a little outside the box and then turning and firing past the keeper. (Suits had been named the Queen of Courts at the Los Al basketball game the night before.)

The Griffins had some good opportunities in the second half as well, but couldn't convert.

In lower level play, the Griffin JVs and Frosh-Soph teams both won their matches 2-0.

January 31, 2008

Wilk scores two, Lady Griffins down Edison 3-1

Greer Wilk scored twice and fellow co-captain Katie Suits (left) scored a goal and had an assist as the Los Al girls soccer team downed Edison 3-1 in a Sunset League match Thursday afternoon on Edison's new turf field.

The win keeps Los Al in a tie atop the Sunset League with a 6-1-0 record, the same as Esperanza. Los Al is now 16-4-3 overall.

Los Al and Marina will play Saturday morning, making up for a contest that was rained out last Monday, then will finish off its regular season schedule next week with matches at Newport Harbor and on Thursday at home against Esperanza in a game that could not only decide the Sunset League championship but have big consequences on the CIF Playoff seedings. The Aztecas and Griffins are currently ranked No. 1 and 2 in Orange County and No. 2 and 3 in the CIF Division I coaches rankings. (Complete rankings are on the GoLosAl Girls soccer page.)

January 24, 2008

Griffins rebound with 3-0 win over Fountain Valley

Greer Wilk scored a goal and assisted on another as the Los Alamitos Lady Griffins downed Fountain Valley 3-0 in a Sunset League soccer match Thursday afternoon on not-too-soggy fields at Laurel High.

Wilk's first goal came in the 31st minute off a pass from Katie Suits, and four minutes later Wilk fed sophomore Ariana Carillo who put Los Al ahead 2-0, a score which stood at halftime.

Los Al's third goal came midway through the second half, when freshman Shannelle Simien snaked her way around a pair of defenders to the end line before sending a ball across the face of the goal which somehow found its way through two or three players to Annie Wethe who punched it in for the final score.

The Griffins improved to 5-1-0 on the season and interestingly enough, Esperanza, which defeated Newport Harbor 1-0 on Thursday, is also reporting its record as 5-1-0, and reportedly lost to Newport 4-2 in the continued play of two five minute overtime periods which took place before its regularly scheduled match Thursday. In their season opening match, Esperanza and Newport played to a 2-2 tie. But the revised Sunset League rules, call for two overtime periods, which the two teams did not play in their first meeting, and were supposed to play on Thursday prior to the regular match.

If Newport did indeed edge Esperanza, Los Al and the Aztecs are now tied for first place at 5-1-0. Los Al resumes play on Monday at Marina.

The Griffin-Fountain Valley JV and Frosh-Soph games were postponed due to the (surprise!) soggy conditions on the Los Al High fields which can get muddy after a group spit. The games were slated to be played today at Laurel High, weather permitting.

January 21, 2008

Latest CIF Division I and Orange County rankings

1. Wilson (Long Beach)
2. Esperanza
3. Los Alamitos
4. San Clemente
5. Aliso Niguel
6. Santa Margarita
7. Mater Dei
8. Buena
9. Northwood
10. Los Osos

Latest OC Register Orange County rankings.

O.C. Top 10
(Updated Jan. 21)

1. Esperanza (Sunset) 14-1-3
2. Los Alamitos (Sunset) 14-4-3
3. Santa Margarita (Trinity) 12-2-4
4. Northwood (Sea View) 13-3-4
5. Mater Dei (Trinity) 8-3-8
6. San Clemente (South Coast) 16-2-4
7. Aliso Niguel (South Coast) 9-2-6
8. Canyon (Century) 12-4-4
9. Brea Olinda (Century) 14-3-2
10. El Toro (Sea View) 9-5-3

January 17, 2008

GIRLS SOCCER: Esperanza free kick makes Los Al pay

Esperanza's Kylie Bono's free kick goal in the final minute of the first half was enough for the Aztecs to defeat Los Al 1-0 in a Sunset League Girls Soccer showdown Thursday evening at Esperanza.

The loss dropped Los Al to 4-1-0 in league play (14-4-3 overall) and allowed Esperanza (4-0-1) to move a point ahead of them, in the standings. The two teams will meet again in the final game if the season on February 8

The game was a showdown between the top two teams in Orange County. The Griffins were also ranked No.; 1 in the CIF Southern Section Division I while Esperanza was No. 3. The Aztecs came into the game ranked No. 2 nationally in the Student Sports winter soccer rankings and Los Al was at No. 5 -- although it should be noted that most high schools in the country play their soccer in the fall.

Los Al came out strong and got off three shots in the early stages of the first half. Aztec goalie Megan Bartlett came up big for the Aztecs especially on a one on one by Griffin forward Katie Suits who beat the defenders and got Barlett to come off her line . Suits faked a shot, sending Bartlett to the ground, but when Suits cut to her left to get a clear angle, the falling Bartlett managed to barely flick the ball enough to cause Suits to take that extra step which allowed the Aztec defenders to catch up to her.

Inside the final minute of the half, Los Al was whistled for a foul 25-30 yards out and Bono made a great shot into the upper left corner, that was just over a diving Jordan Santos outstretched hand, then hit the bottom of the cross bar and bounced down and into the net.

While the Griffin defense continued to shutdown Esperanza's offense, the Aztec defense did likewise to Los Al, constantly disrupting passes at all positions, and forcing the frustrated Griffins into more longball than they've played this year. When they did seem to have a potential opportunity, Esperanza always seemed to have numbers on the Griffins. The last six or seven shots by Los Al all seemed to be hit the legs of an Aztec defender before ever reaching the goal.

The Griffins played without their leading scorer, freshman Shannelle Simien, who is playing in the Girls U15 Region IV ODP Championships this weekend in Phoenix, Arizona.

After a break for finals at other league schools this week, Los Al begins the second round of league play on Thursday, hosting Fountain Valley.

Photo: Los Al defender Jazmyne Bacani outfights Lauren Kennedy for the ball as Jessica Kaub comes over to help. (photo by www.davepetersphoto.com)

More photos

January 15, 2008

GIRLS SOCCER: Wilk scores 2, assist on 1 as Griffins down Newport Harbor 4-0. Showdown with Esperanza is next

The Los Al Griffins girls soccer team stayed atop the Sunset League and CIF rankings by downing Newport Harbor 4-0, and setting up a Thursday evening showdown against No. 2 ranked Esperanza.

The Griffins, who have opened league play with wins over Fountain Valley, Marina, Edison, and Newport Harbor, have now won eleven straight matches, including 5 wins and the championship of the prestigious Excalibur Cup just after Christmas.

Tuesday afternoon’s win over Newport Harbor was their most impressive yet, as they knocked off the Sailors 4-0 in convincing fashion. The G-girls jumped on top early with two first half goals off free kick set plays. Annie Wethe started the scoring sending a 25-yarder into the upper net midway through the half. Sophomore Ari Carillo followed up, volleying in a free kick by senior co-captain Greer Wilk.

Wilk scored two of her own in the second half. The first came off a neat through pass by Katie Suits which Wilk placed over the right shoulder of the keeper. The second came after a Katie Peterson shot was knocked down by keeper and Wilk touched it in. The win gives Los Al a 4-0 league mark.

The game was almost a textbook example of the high pressure defensive style that first year coach Steve Soler favors. Newport could barely get the ball out of their back third as outlet passes were constantly challenged and wing players were considetently double and triple-teamed. "The girls are really getting it," said Soler, "and when we do it right, it totally keeps the other team from doing what they want to do."

In last Thursday’s Edison match, the Griffins fell behind after an early defensive misplay, but Katie Suits had assists on goals by Katie Peterson and Shannelle Simien to key the Griffin comeback win.

Thursday’s match at Esperanza game is at 5pm.

Los Al is now 14-3-3 on the season.

In younger level play on Tuesday, the Los Al JVs edged Newport Harbor 1-0. They are now 3-0-1 in league play.

STANDINGS
	League			Overall
	W	L	T	Pts	W	L	T
Los Al	4	0	0	12	14	3	3
Esperanza	2	0	1	7	12	1	3
Newport Harbor	1	1	2	5	6	4	7
Edison	1	2	0	3
Fountain Valley	0	3	1	1	3	7	4
Marina	1	3	0	0	5	6	4

CIF Division 1 Rankings

1. Los Alamitos
2. Wilson (Long Beach)
3. Esperanza
4. Aliso Niguel
5. Mater Dei
6. Santa Margarita
7. San Clemente
8. Buena
9. Trabuco Hills
10T. Los Osos
10T. Mission Viejo

January 10, 2008

Griffins rally to down Edison 2-1

It wasn't pretty soccer but it was exciting and the end result was all good for Los Al as the Griffins rallied for two second half goals to down Edison 2-1 in a Sunset League match Thursday afternoon at Laurel High.

Katie Suits assisted Katie Peterson and Shanelle Simien (left) to key both Griffin goals, and allow the Lady Griffins to improve their Sunset League record to 3-0 and 13-3-3 overall.

Edison's strategy was to hang extra defenders back throughout the match and play long ball against the Griffins. Although Los Al controlled most of the action, the Chargers long ball strategy looked good, especially after a long high cross late in the first half was misplayed by Los Al and found an Edison player wide open with the ball directly in front of the net. Griffin goalie Jordan Santos had no chance and the Chargers went into halftime up 1-0.

Los Al continued its pressure game and had three near misses and a couple balls that looked like they were just across the line but they couldn't get on the board until midway through the second half when Suits turned the corner on the tiring Edison backs, got to the end line and sent a cross which grazed a defenders head but found Katie Peterson who headed the ball in to tie th match.

Five minutes later, Suits, with her back to the goal, took a pass from Annie Wethe and out-muscled two defenders to get to the end line and send another pass across the face of the net which Simien sent in for the game-winner. It was Simien's team-leading seventh goal of the season. It was Suits sixth assist of the season, giving her a team-leading 18 points.

The Griffin defense turned in another solid effort, with the Edison goal being only the third in the past ten games. On the year Los Al has allowed only nine goals.

The Griffins return to action next Tuesday, hosting Newport Harbor at Laurel School. Newport Harbor tied Fountain Valley 1-1 on Thursday. Esperanza downed Marina 5-2 in the other Sunset League match. Los Al is slated to meet Esperanza next Thursday in Aztec-ville.

In lower level matches, the Junior Varsity and Frosh-Soph both downed Edison 2-0.