Mira Costa’s unranked girls soccer team was less than two minutes from extending its late-season surge but the Mustangs saw their improbable run – and chances at a major upset – come to an abrupt end.
Nursing a 1-0 lead provided by Alyssa Covarrubio’s goal in the 33rd minute, Mira Costa gave up a game-tying goal with under two minutes remaining in regulation, allowing third-seeded Long Beach Wilson to send the game into overtime.
Goalkeeper Dana Eisenhauer kept the underdog Mustangs in the game recording 16 saves, but in the eighth minute of overtime, the senior couldn’t handle a shot into the corner giving Wilson (16-5-5) the 2-1 win. Wilson advances to play at No. 6 Sunny Hills (20-4-3) in the quarterfinals Thursday.
After finishing third in the Bay League, Mira Costa (14-8-1) traveled to Dos Pueblos Thursday for its first-round game of the CIF Southern Section/Ford Division 2 championships.
Mira Costa scored four unanswered goals in the second half and held on to beat Dos Pueblos 5-3. Goalkeeper Eisenhauer recorded five saves, Kimby Keever scored two goals and Megan Hong, Mandy McKeegan and Taylor Foland added one each for the Mustangs.
Bay League champion Palos Verdes (23-3-2) earned the top seed in Division 2 and held off a tough Rancho Cucamonga team 2-1 in the first round before defeating host Troy 2-1 in the second round Tuesday. The Sea Kings played visiting No. 8 Santiago/Corona to a scoreless tie before winning on penalty kicks 4-3 last Thursday.
Palos Verdes advances to to the semifinals where it will travel to fourth-seeded Buena (18-5-3) on Tuesday.
Bay League runner-up Peninsula (15-4-3) shutout Burroughs/Burbank 4-0 in the opening round and nearly shocked second-seeded Los Osos, losing to the Grizzlies 1-0 on Tuesday.
In Division 4, Pioneer champion Torrance (15-5-1) earned a No. 4 seed and defeated Moreno Valley 4-1 but were upset by unranked Don Lugo 2-1 in the second round.
Seventh-seeded South Torrance (17-5-4) squeaked by visiting Bloomington and No. 10 Beverly Hills by identical 1-0 scores. The Spartans proceede to upset second-seeded Brentwood 2-0 in the quarterfinals Thursday and will host third-seeded Canyon Springs (23-1-4) in on Thursday. The winner advances to play the Oaks Christian-Don Lugo winner in the championship game.
El Segundo (14-6-3) saw its season end with a 1-0 loss to No. 8 Marymount and in Division 7, Coastal League champion Vistamar (16-4-1) lost to Marshall 2-0.
Boys Soccer
Mira Costa and Redondo were forced to battle their way out of the wild card bracket and succeeded, but that’s as far as their journey in the post season would go.
Mira Costa (14-8-3) held off Laguna Hills for a 2-1 victory in its wild-card contest. Alex de la Espriella and Charlie Pitts scored on assists from each other to lead the Mustangs who advanced only to lose at second-seeded Millikan (26-1-3) on Friday.
The Mustangs pulled to within one when Pitts scored off a Joe Valenzuela pass in the 53rd minute but the Rams scored again in the 65th minute for a 3-1 victory.
Redondo (11-11-5) earned an at-large berth and traveled to Moorpark where the Sea Hawks eliminated the Musketeers 1-0 in their wild-card match.
Nasaya Kawauchi broke the defensive struggle, scoring the game’s lone goal in the eighth minute of sudden-death overtime.
Redondo traveled to No. 8 St. John Bosco for a first-round game on Friday and gave the Braves a challenge before losing 1-0.
Bay League champion Palos Verdes (20-4-4) earned the fifth seed but lost at San Clemente 2-1 in overtime in the second round Wednesday. The Sea Kings defeated Santa Margarita 4-1 last Friday.
Bay runner-up West (16-6-5) played at Servite in its first-round contest, winning the 1-1 contest on penalty kicks (4-2). The Warriors defeated No. 6 Tesoro 1-0 before eliminating third-seeded Loyola 2-1 last Friday.
Unranked West plays at No. 7 Santa Barbara (19-5-3) in the semifinals on Tuesday with the victor advancing to take on the winner between No. 8 St. John Bosco and unranked San Clemente.
In Division 4, Pioneer champion North Torrance (13-4-7) earned a No. 10 seed and played La Mirada to a scoreless before winning on penalty kicks 4-2. The Saxons hosted No. 7 Crescenta Valley Wednesday but lost 1-0.
El Segundo (8-11-3) hosted a wild-card game Wednesday and defeated Pioneer 6-1, advancing to play at top-seeded Santa Monica where the Eagles lost 4-3.
In a first round battle between local schools, South Torrance (10-7-6) hosted Bishop Montgomery (9-10-2) but fell to the visitors 4-3. The Knights advanced to host fourth-seeded Salesian but suffered a 1-0 overtime loss in the second round.
Ocean League runner-up Hawthorne (12-9) defeated St. Genevieve 4-1 in its first round game before losing to second-seeded El Rancho 1-0.
Prep League champion Chadwick (10-3-4) beat Avalon 4-0 in the first round of the Division 6 playoffs before losing at Citrus Hill 2-0 Wednesday.
Vistamar (9-11) defeated Santa Clarita Christian 4-0 in Division 7, advancing to the second round where the Dolphins lost to fourth-seeded Paraclete 4-3. ER
