Peter Samore
TORRANCE-They could have met last year in the CIF Southern Section
Division IV playoffs, but St. Francis High bowed out to the same team
that ousted Bishop Montgomery High. The teams took a rain check and
cashed it Saturday at Bishop Montgomery. In a nonleague boys' soccer
match, the Golden Knights defeated the Knights, 3-1. Last season, St.
Francis lost to Estancia High, 4-1, in the semifinals. Estancia went on
to beat Bishop Montgomery, 5-2, in the final. 'There were a lot of
quality players on the field,' Golden Knight Coach Glen Appels said. 'It
was a good match with good goals scored. This was anticipated when we
went up against each other.' Said Knight Coach Steven Burke: 'St.
Francis is a good team, and we knew that coming in. I hope we get another
chance in two months [in the playoffs] to knock them off.' St. Francis
(6-1) got off to a slow start, taking just five shots in the first 25
minutes. The Golden Knights couldn't get inside the box to take a good
shot. The drought ended just before halftime, as Golden Knight
midfielder Daniel Paladini got his shot into the top of the net from 30
yards out. St. Francis managed to hold Bishop Montgomery (3-3-1) to
seven shots in the first 40 minutes and led, 1-0. 'We were extra lucky
in the first half,' Appels said. 'School ended Friday, and it seemed we
were already on vacation in the first 20 minutes.' Burke knew that his
team missed out in that time. 'I'm happy with how we battled, but there
was no excuse early,' he said. 'We didn't capitalize and finish our early
chances. If we did, the match would have been different.' In the 48th
minute, St. Francis' Matthew Nicchitta pulled the Bishop Montgomery
goalkeeper away from the net and set up Ryan Shaw for a goal in front of
the open net. Later in the second half, Paladini scored again, this
time on a penalty kick, which gave the Golden Knights a 3-0 lead.
Bishop Montgomery's only score came in the 77th minute. Angel Sandi set
up Mike Jimenez for the goal. Golden Knight goalkeeper Sean O'Connor
finished with five saves. The Knights' Tony Guzman finished with six.
