Tologs reign supreme

The match was supposed to be played at Tesoro, but due to a CIF infraction, the Tologs were awarded the game. It is the third consecutive opponent from Orange County that Sacred Heart plays and their next two in the Division I tournament will also be Orange County foes.

• March 1 — Alyssa Conti comes through with a sudden-death overtime goal to lift the soccer team to a 1-0 win over host Esperanza in the semifinals of the Division I playoffs and into the first CIF Southern Section final in program lore.

"She's one of the best finishers on the team," Koemans said of Conti. "I knew she was gonna make it."

Koemans assists on the goal, while Espe tallies a shutout in net, one made possible by defender Natalie Zeenni — who would eventually be named All-Area Girls' Soccer Player of the Year for the second straight time and News-Press Female Athlete of the Year — making a dramatic save on the backline of a potential own goal.

• March 4 — At the end of another 1-0 defensive thriller, the soccer team is the last team left standing in CIF Southern Section Division I after defeating San Clemente in the championship match at Mission Viejo High.

Krista Meaglia plays the hero with a goal in the 68th minute, backed by a stellar team defensive showing against a San Clemente team that was the No. 1 seed and had dominated the run of play in the first half.

"I don't think words can describe it," said Meaglia, who scored off an assist from Johnson. "I just saw the opportunity, I just shot it."

Zeenni once again comes up clutch, saving two balls along the backline, while Espe records her second straight playoff shutout with seven saves. Also playing a large role is the play of Alexis Montgomery, Kaitlin Almeida, Zeenni and Tera Trujilo on defense. Trujillo shows just how valuable her versatility can be, as usual starter Kayla Mills is injured and Trujillo moves back from the midfield to defense.

"Amazing," Johnson said. "This is one of the best days ever."

The softball team opens its season with a 6-4 nonleague home win over San Gabriel Mission. Paige Conti goes one for three with two runs batted in.

• March 8 — The soccer team begins its run in the CIF Southern California Division III Regional Championships tournament with a 6-1 opening-round win over Horizon Christian Academy.

Katie Johnson and Savannah Viola each score a pair of goals for the top-seeded Tologs.