Girls soccer teams from Mira Costa and Redondo capitalized on strong defense to win their pools in the South Holiday Tournament and advance to the Championship Bracket on Saturday.
Pool B winner Mira Costa (5-0-1) began the tournament last Saturday with a 7-1 victory over North Torrance. Megan Mahoney and Rachel Oster each scored two goals and McKenna Doyle, Savannah Sartini and Hanna Watkins scored once.
Later in the day, the Mustangs beat Lakewood 1-0 with Mandy McKeegan scoring the only goal for Mira Costa.
Coach Patty Perkinson’s Mustangs are ranked No. 4 in CIF Division 2 and will play two non-league games this week beginning with a road contest at Marymount (No. 3, Div. 4) Tuesday at 3: 15 p.m. followed by a home game against South Torrance (No. 2, Div. 4) on Thursday at 3 p.m.
Mira Costa continues play in the South Holiday Tournament Saturday at 11 a.m. against Pool A winner Torrance (No. 7, Div. 4). Win or lose, the Mustangs will play again at 3:30 p.m. against the winner/loser of the South Torrance-West Torrance game.
Redondo (5-0-1) won the Pool E competition posting two shutouts. The Sea Hawks defeated Beverly Hills 1-0 when Tana Granados scored in the 38th minute.
In the final Pool E game, Redondo knocked off Lancaster 2-0 behind goals by Katrina Cohen and Randie Vlahakis. Shannon Simon assisted on both goals. Goalkeeper Marissa Marshall recorded four saves on the day and Marissa Cascio made three saves against Lancaster in a reserve role.
Redondo posted another shutout Monday beating Chadwick 2-0. Cohen and Brittany Oldham each scored goals while Cascio recorded four saves.
The Sea Hawks return to action in the South Holiday Tournament Saturday facing Pool F winner Valley Christian at 12:30 p.m. The winner faces the winner of the Peninsula-Burroughs game at 6:30 p.m. Losers face off at 5 p.m.
The fifth-place game of the tournament will be held Monday at 4:30 p.m. followed by the third-place game at 6 p.m. and the championship game at 7:30 p.m.
