Jim Riggio
LA CANADA HIGH -- With just four wins during the regular season,
the La Canada High girls' soccer team could be considered fortunate to be
in the CIF Southern Section Division IV playoffs.
But the Spartans have instead solidified themselves. Tuesday they
pulled off their second upset of the playoffs, defeating previously
unbeaten Beaumont High, 2-1, in sudden-death overtime.
Heather Zaimes headed in a cross from Sharmineh O'Farrill in the
seventh minute of the sudden death period to seal the victory for the
Spartans.
"We had a lot of potential at the beginning of the year and now it's
finally all come together," said La Canada senior Brooke Yaussi, who
scored the Spartans' first goal.
The Spartans will now face Corona del Mar High, a 2-0 overtime winner
over St. Paul. The site for Thursday's match will be determined this
morning with a coin flip.
La Canada (6-8-3) wasn't figured to give Beaumont much of a run, since
the Cougars entered the match with a 19-0-2 record.
But after Beaumont took the first shot of the match, a second-minute
shot by Kristin Webb, La Canada dominated the rest of the first half.
The Spartans took the lead in the 24th minute when Kacie McCune kicked
a high ball that landed in front of Beaumont goalie Jennifer Tinker.
Tinker tried to clear the ball with her feet, but Yaussi stole the
ball and kicked it into the empty net.
After being dominated in the first half, Beaumont came out a different
team in the second half, and continually put pressure on La Canada.
The Cougars missed numerous chances before scoring in the 66th minute,
as Cristy Gonzalez kicked in a loose ball off a corner kick.
"The first half we definitely played better and in the second half
they were all over us," La Canada Coach Phil Hacopians said. "We were
lucky to come out of the second half."
After Beaumont tied the score, La Canada appeared to break out of its
shell.
The Spartans began to generate scoring opportunities and had several.
Aimee Smallcomb was unable to control a cross by McCune in the final
minute of regulation, as she stood in front of the goal.
Alicia Senour had a breakaway in the 18th minute of overtime, but was
broken up by a Beaumont defender.
"I think that speed played a big part for us with Brooke up front,"
Hacopians said.
