Page 14 February 28, 2019 EL SEGUNDO HERALD
Sports from page 3
The Eagles have controlled games all year
long with their potent offense. Knowing how
stingy the Warriors’ defense had been in
the playoffs, Coach Kelley figured his team
would need to control the game a different
way. “Championships are won on defense, so
we went with a different strategy,” he said.
The back line play of Nicholas Sautter,
Logan Pismopulos and Nate Salazar were
the key to the defense. Of course the play of
#23 Jack Finders attempts a header while #19 Casey Lund lends help inside during the CIF-SS finals.
James Amerault in goal was a difference-maker
-- especially in the second half. The speed
of El Segundo’s defense in transition was
pivotal in shutting down the Warriors, who
placed an emphasis on pressuring the box.
El Segundo’s offense dictated the pace
of the game early on. In transition senior
forward Jack Finders passed to Malcolm
Holtzmann-Cisse, who kicked it true past
Warrior goalie Christopher Valot. It was just
the second goal scored against West Torrance
during the playoffs.
The Warriors tied the game off a corner
kick and header by Adam McGraw. During
the scrum in front of the box, McGraw used
his length to outjump everyone and head the
ball just out of the reach of Amerault.
West Torrance kept the pressure on El
Segundo’s defense. Casey Lund helped out
on the defensive end when he deflected and
saved a sure goal at 17:15 left in the first
half. Moments later, the Warriors were called
for a handball inside to turn back another
scoring opportunity.
In the second half, the pace of play was
ramped up with each team stretching the field.
Both teams had opportunities to score, but
they were thwarted by mistakes. The Warriors
thought they had a score when they were in
front of the box, but got called for a handball
turnover. A minute later, El Segundo’s goal
inside was negated by an offside call. West
Torrance pressured El Segundo’s defense
down the stretch, but Amerault made four
saves earmarked for scores -- three of them
from close inside.
The game went into overtime with a golden
goal provision in place, meaning first score
wins. The intensity was at an all-time high
when Warrior midfielder John Weaver was
issued a yellow card for a blatant foul. Sam
Twigg pressured the ball down the Eagle
sideline and made a left kick pass inside. Finders
and Lund were in range of the pass and
the former took the rebound off the Warrior
goalie inside and pushed it back. Lund saw
the ball dribble towards the goal and pulled
back. Lund, fearing he would be offside,
pulled back as the ball trickled past Valot
for the winning score with 6:22 remaining
in the first overtime. That goal set off a wild
celebration both on the field and in the stands.
The two teams were intense, with a total
of seven yellow cards issued. But in this
highly competitive game, in each case the
player committing the foul exchanged an
apologetic gesture to both his opponent and
official. During the post-game lineup, the
two teams -- in a classy gesture -- saluted
the opposition’s appreciative fans.
During the celebration afterwards, Coach
Kelley was surrounded by family and friends
while his players absorbed the history they
had just made. He was all smiles watching
his team celebrating with friends and family.
“All the credit goes to the team,” Kelley
said. “They made it easy and they worked
hard and each one of them made this moment
happen.”
The Eagles (23-1-1), who are ranked
second in California and sixth in the nation,
went back to work on Monday preparing
for the Southern California Regional that
started Tuesday and continues today with
the championship game on Saturday. The
Eagles won the Southern California Region
State Division IV championship last season
when they defeated Hesperia 3-3 on penalty
kicks. This season, the Eagles are the top
seed in the 2019 CIF Southern California
Regional Division 3 Soccer Championship.
El Segundo had a bye on Tuesday and hosts
the winner of the Tulare Western/ Alta Loma
match today at 4 p.m. The winner advances
to the finals, set for Saturday at a site TBA.
Local Runner Hitting
the Road for Charity
El Segundo is the home of some special
athletes past and present. Every now and then,
a former Eagle will continue to be special
by raising awareness as well as funds for a
cause. Shannon Brooker is a former pitcher
and hitter for her softball team. She helped
her teams win 83 games in four years as a
starter. After high school, she ended up attending
Boston University studying Business
and will graduate this May.
Brooker has been an athlete all her life and
set a goal in high school to run a marathon
at some point in her life. In 2017, she witnessed
the Boston Marathon for the first time.
She said she was so humbled and inspired
just from standing in a crowd cheering on
hundreds of strangers. She also witnessed
first-hand the most incredible sense of community
and support, which was the moment
she decided she was going to be among those
runners one day.
Brooker first heard of the Martin Richard
Foundation two years ago during a lecture
at BU. It was established by the parents of
Martin Richard, an 8-year-old boy who was
killed in the Boston Marathon bombing on
April 15, 2013. The foundation is dedicated
to promoting education and sports in the community
for youths and helps finance athletics
programs for children with disabilities.
Qualifying to run the Boston Marathon requires
a sanctioned time or a lottery entrance.
Another way is by running for a designated
charity such as the Martin Richard Foundation
as a volunteer. Brooker decided to get
involved with the organization because of the
positive values it aims to instill in children.
Those consist of community, inclusion, kindness
and peace. She said she was inspired by
the parents of Martin Richard, who turned
one of the most horrific experiences of their
lives into something filled with so much love
and compassion.
Brooker has been training regularly and
increasing mileage. She trains with the
Martin Richard Foundation along with other
charities. She said, “During the long runs
on Saturdays I have averaged about a 10:30
pace, so I am hoping to finish it in less than
4 hours and 30 minutes!”
Brooker has set a goal to raise a minimum
of $7,500 for the Martin Richard Foundation.
She has hosted fundraisers at Chipotle and
Blaze plus one in March at CPK in Manhattan
Beach. Brooker could use your help for a
very worthy cause. You can contact Shannon
at Sbrooker@bu.edu on how you can help. •
Denis Vezina (left) and Nate Salazar (right) play tough defense against West Torrance’s Kayden Pourlak in the CIF finals.
Shannon Brooker trains for her Boston Marathon on the esplanade
where other Boston marathon runners train.
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