Page 4 February 21, 2019 EL SEGUNDO HERALD
El Segundo Eagles Boys Soccer Team Marches Toward CIF Finals
Story and Photos by Gregg McMullin
The El Segundo High School boys soccer
team and girls basketball team advanced to the
CIF Southern Section quarterfinals. The soccer
team overpowered Chaffey 6-2 to advance to
the CIF-SS Division 3 semifinals and then
defeated Alta Loma 4-2 to advance to their
second consecutive CIF Southern Section
finals. The Lady Eagles fell to Mayfair 50-36
to end their historic season.
Eagles Continue Their
Championship Run
The boys soccer team has proved over the
season that moving up two divisions, they
could compete in one of the most demanding
divisions in the CIF Southern Section.
The Eagles, who ran the table in the Ocean
League, have dominated their opponents in
the playoffs. Their speed, athleticism, passing,
defense and aggressiveness on offense were the
difference especially against Chaffey. Their team
chemistry and their drive to return to the CIF
finals were evident against Alta Loma where
the Eagles scored a 4-2 win over the Braves.
The 6-2 win over Chaffey in the quarterfinals
was not as close as the score might
indicate. Chaffey stayed with El Segundo
for the first 10 minutes before the Eagles
turned it up. The Eagles put the pressure on
the Tigers goalkeeper Anthony Riveros. Jack
Finders took a high lob and headed a pass
to Casey Lund, who directed a header in
for a goal and an El Segundo 1-0 lead.
Finders made it 2-0 when he used an assist
from Sam Twigg to power in the Eagles’ second
goal. The Eagles got a gift goal off a penalty
kick by Logan Pismopulos to make it 3-0.
Everything the Eagles did turned positive
and frustrated the Tigers. Twigg drove the
ball down the field and passed to Finders,
who drove a header past Riveros for a 4-0
El Segundo lead. Two minutes later, Denis
Vezina lobbed a high shot just over the outstretched
hands of the Chaffey goalie for a
5-0 lead.
In the second half, Andre Hernandez got
into the scoring column 10 minutes in. He
took a pass inside from Finders and drove it
home for a 6-0 lead. Chaffey would score on
a penalty kick at 16:00 and then time wound
down for the final 6-2 score.
The win propelled the Eagles into the
CIF Southern Section Division 3 semifinals
against Alta Loma. On a blustery cool evening,
the Eagles scored in the first two minutes.
Vezina sent a corner kick that was bounced
around to Finders. Finders hit a volley with
his right foot over his left shoulder into the
top left corner while his back was to the goal.
Two minutes later, Vezina scored from close
in to make it 2-0. Alta Loma responded with
a series of passes that was sent home past
the diving Eagle goalie James Amerault to
make it 2-1
That exchange inside seemed to spark the
Eagles and El Segundo scored twice more before
the break. Twigg hit a shot from about 30
yards out that seemed to befuddle the keeper.
It went over his head for a 3-1 lead. Then a
fantastic exchange of play with some intricate
passing led to the Eagles scoring their fourth
goal. Lund interchanged with Finders inside
the area and executed a perfect back heel that
allowed Lund a clear path on goal to make it
4-1 at the half.
El Segundo dictated the second half by
retaining possession, but Alta Loma would
prevail on one possession. atrycio Acosta
took a pass inside and drove it home for a
score to close the deficit to 4-2. El Segundo’s
defense stepped it up in the closing minutes
and the Eagles came away with the win. Logan
Pismopulos, Nick Sautter, Caden Schepps and
Nate Salazar were instrumental on defense
helping out Amerault in goal.
El Segundo returns to the CIF Southern
Section finals for the second consecutive year.
The Eagles, 21-1-1, will host a familiar foe
on Saturday at 5 p.m. when they play West
Torrance for the CIF-SS Division 3 Ford
Soccer Championship. The Eagles defeated
the Warriors 1-0 on Dec. 6, 2018 on a second
half Jack Finders goal. This will be the first
time in school history that El Segundo will
host a CIF championship game in any sport,
so let’s fill up Hazletine Field.
Girls Basketball Team’s
Historic Season Ends
The girls basketball team had the program’s
best season in school history. The Eagles advanced
to the CIF Southern Section Division
3A quarterfinals. It marked just the fourth
time the team had advanced that far in the
playoffs. The Eagles, who were seeded fifth,
hosted fourth-seeded Mayfair -- a team that
Jack Finders goes high for a header. He had two goals and one assist against Chaffey.
has appeared in 10 consecutive postseason
tournaments. In front of a packed gym, the
Monsoons used their inside presence to defeat
El Segundo 50-36. The Monsoons used
their decided height advantage and tight zone
defense to thwart a fourth quarter comeback
by the Eagles.
In the second quarter, the Eagles were
trailing 14-8 when Kayla Smith-Petty scored
two baskets inside to close the deficit to 14-
12. The Monsoons would take advantage of
turnovers and go on an 8-2 run to close out
the half and lead 24-14.
The low first-half scoring by both teams
was due to the defensive efforts and unforced
turnovers. The Eagles committed 12 turnovers
in the first half and 19 for the game. Firstyear
head coach John Peterson made some
adjustments for the second half on both ends
of the court.
The Eagles crept back into the game by slicing
into the 10-point halftime deficit. Jordan
Peterson’s layup made it 25-21 and then on
the other end she took a charge. The Eagles
were within four points and had possession,
but couldn’t take advantage. El Segundo had
its best quarter by outscoring the Monsoons
15 to 8. Bo Takehara had a steal for a layup
to cut the deficit to 30-27.
Early in the fourth quarter, Peterson connected
on a three-pointer to make it a one-point game.
That would be as close as the Eagles would
come. The Monsoons went on a 9-0 run and
extended their lead to 42-32. The Eagles’ cold
shooting in the fourth quarter hampered any
comeback attempt.
In one of the classiest moves of the season,
Coach Peterson replaced his five seniors on
the court. With just under a minute remaining
in their high school careers, Kailea Lee, Malia
Hue, Remicia Germeille, Lydia Telahun and
Kayla Smith-Petty were treated to a standing
ovation by the appreciative student section as
they came off the court. “It was the least I
could do for the seniors. They’ve made this
year special,” said Peterson.
The Eagles finished the season with 21
wins and were Ocean League champions.
They ranked fifth in their division and had
nine different players post career highs in
scoring: Bo Takeharak (12), Kailea Lee (14),
Storey Noble (19), Reese Jones (20), Hannah
Chang (20, which tied a career high), Jordyn
Marconet (10), Jordan Peterson (18) and
Remicia Germeille (10). Jones led the team
in scoring in 12 of 30 games and led the team
in rebounding 14 of the games. Marconet and
Peterson each had career highs of rebounds
in one game with 11. •
Andre Hernandez had a goal against Chaffey.
#17 Caden Schepps’ defense is one reason the Eagles will play for a CIF championship at home on Saturday.
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