Local soccer tournaments will provide early-season tests for the girls soccer teams of Mira Costa and Redondo, both of which return talented starters.
The prestigious 35th Annual South Holiday Tournament begins Friday where 24 teams, including seven ranked in the top ten in their respective CIF divisions, will compete on Dec. 7, 8, 15 and 17.
Competing in Pool A will be Chino, Marymount (No. 1, Div. 4) and Torrance while Mira Costa (No. 5, Div. 2), North Torrance and Lakewood will play in Pool B.
Pool C consists of Los Angeles, South Pasadena and South Torrance (No. 2, Div. 4) and playing in Pool D are Granada Hills, Notre Dame and West Torrance.
Redondo competes in Pool E with Beverly Hills and Lancaster. Pool F entries are Louisville, Santa Monica (No. 10, Div. 4) and Valley Christian (No. 10, Div. 5).
Pool G action includes Bishop Montgomery, Downey (No. 3, Div. 4) and Peninsula while Burroughs, Lawndale and Palos Verdes (No. 10, Div 2) will compete in Pool G.
All games will be played at South High with the exception of Pools E and F which will be played at Redondo Union. Winners of each pool advance to the Championship Bracket, the other teams to the Consolation Bracket. Bracket play takes place Saturday, Dec. 15 with championship games played on Monday, Dec. 17.
Host Redondo will play Beverly Hills on Saturday at 8 a.m. and Lancaster at 2 p.m.
The Sea Hawks opened their season with a 3-0 road win over Santa Monica. Randie Vlahakis scored two goals and Brittany Oldham scored once for Redondo.
On Wednesday, Redondo shutout Morningside 8-0 Vlahakis, Brittany Oldham and Dani Hatlen scored two goals apiece, Andrea Elias recorded a goal and three assists and Tana Granados added one goal for the Sea Hawks.
“The South tournament is loaded this year with teams from inside and outside the area,” Redondo head coach Shelly Marsden said. “It should be a huge indicator of how we, and the other Bay League teams, compare to the top talent in Division 2.”
Redondo has 13 returners from last year’s team that went 18-5-4 and was ranked No. 42 in the state. The Sea Hawks handed Mira Costa its only league loss of the season.
Junior midfielder Shannon Simon scored over 20 goals last season while earning All-Bay League first team honors
Speedy – yet rugged – senior midfielder Erin Guernsey, junior midfielder Sharon Lee and Oldham, a senior midfielder return after being named to the All-Bay League second team last season.
Marsden will rely on the depth of her team, particularly a group of seniors. She noted that senior Montana Martinez is a quick midfielder with strong distribution skills; Vlahakis is fearless at the forward position; Granados is a crafty, hardworking winger and Tonya Gonzalez brings leadership as a captain of the team.
“The girls have worked really hard to be tested for a tough Bay League season,” Marsden said. “Our strengths are in our experience, talented midfield, tough defense, and fast wingers. Unfortunately, we will be starting out with several injuries to key players.”
Defending South Holiday Tournament champion Mira Costa begins its quest for a repeat on Saturday facing North at 9:30 a.m. and Lakewood at 3:30 p.m.
The Mustangs have a strong nucleus returning from last year’s Bay League championship squad that went 15-2-1 and was ranked No. 19 in the state. Mira Costa enters the season ranked No. 5 in the CIF Division 2 poll.
Coach Patty Perkinson’s Mustangs are led by All-Bay League first team members Melina Cohen and Kimby Keever along with second-team selections Nonie Fischette and Mandy McKeegan.
Keever was named MVP of the tournament last year while Cohen earned All-Tournament honors.
Mira Costa began its season with a scoreless tie at Bishop Montgomery, beat Santa Monica 2-0 and defeated visiting Chadwick 4-1 Wednesday behind McKeegan’s two-goal performance. Megan Carver and McKenna Doyle scored one goal each for the Mustangs who will play at Harvard Westlake (No. 6, Div. 1) in a non-league game Thursday at 5:15 p.m.
