SPORTS
By Gabriel Rizk, gabriel.rizk@latimes.com | March 6, 2012
With winds wreaking havoc on Tuesday's CIF Southern California Division I Regional Championship opener, the Crescenta Valley High boys' soccer team needed to take advantage of any edge it could to find a scoring opportunity. Alex Berger did just that for the Falcons when the senior midfielder booted in a free kick in the 17th minute for which there would never be an answer, as the Falcons defeated host Central Section Division I champion Buchanan of Clovis, 1-0, to advance to the second round on Thursday.
SPORTS
By Charles Rich, charles.rich@latimes.com | February 20, 2012
Just a throw-in away from the Crescenta Valley High soccer field are several concrete walls. Most of the time, nearby residents occupy the territory to smash or loft tennis balls. For Crescenta Valley boys' soccer player Alex Berger, he's got other ideas concerning how to use the walls to help him improve athletically. Over the past couple of seasons, the standout senior midfielder has spent several hours a week practicing free kicks against the wall. He's found a target on the walls, pretending that it's a teammate.
SPORTS
By Andrew Shortall, andrew.shortall@latimes.com | February 17, 2012
LA CAÑADA FLINTRIDGE - Deciding the winner in a soccer game that goes to penalty kicks is a lot like flipping a coin, Flintridge Prep girls' Coach Esteban Chavez said. The Rebels wound up on the wrong side of the coin Friday when they hosted Chino Hills, which finished third in the Sierra League, in the first round of the CIF Southern Section Division III playoffs. Huskies goalie Merrick Ives was tough all day and unbeatable in penalties, stopping all four penalty shots that came her way to clinch an upset, 1-1 (2-0)
SPORTS
By Gabriel Rizk, gabriel.rizk@latimes.com | February 17, 2012
LA CRESCENTA - Despite giving away an entire first half and giving up two quick goals early in the second half, the Crescenta Valley High girls' soccer team still found itself taking meaningful shots late in Friday's CIF Southern Section Division II first-round playoff game. They were shots that could have prolonged the host Falcons' season, even if only for an overtime period, and the Falcons approached the task with appropriate urgency, but to no avail, as Long Beach Millikan escaped with a 2-1 upset.
SPORTS
By Charles Rich, charles.rich@latimes.com | February 16, 2012
LA CRESCENTA - While battling pain in both of his calves, Pavle Atanackovic seemingly needed to find another way to score. The Crescenta Valley High boys' soccer player used his head, lifting the Falcons to a first-round playoff victory. Atanackovic scored three goals on headers - including the match-winning tally three minutes into sudden-death overtime - to propel host Crescenta Valley to a 3-2 CIF Southern Section Division IV win against Laguna Beach on Thursday afternoon.
SPORTS
By Andrew Campa, andrew.campa@latimes.com | December 21, 2011
PASADENA - Given a second shot, Hoover High sophomore Tyra Williams and her Tornadoes didn't miss. The midfielder knocked in a floating 30-yard free kick for the lone goal Tuesday afternoon as Hoover defeated host Blair, 1-0, in nonleague play. "I didn't think I was going to make it at all," Williams said. "I just took the kick and hoped it would bounce in front of the goalie, but it went over and in. " Williams' game-winning shot in the 75th minute was taken as Vikings' goalie Amy Castillo was playing somewhat forward in the crease during the attempt.
SPORTS
By Grant Gordon | February 13, 2010
BURBANK — Danny Cardenas wouldn’t call it perfect. But Crescenta Valley High girls’ soccer Coach Reggie Rivas did. And most that were cheering Cardenas’ exploits in the 52nd minute of Friday afternoon’s battle for the Pacific League title would likely call it a perfect shot as well. Regardless, it was most assuredly the most important shot taken on Friday, as the senior midfielder blasted a free kick from 22 yards out that found the back of the net and led the Falcons to a 2-0 victory against Burbank that claimed Crescenta Valley’s second consecutive league crown.
SPORTS
By Gabriel Rizk | February 8, 2010
PASADENA — The Flintridge Prep girls’ soccer team hoped to ride a wave of momentum from a big win on Friday into Saturday’s Prep League contest against Westridge. Rebels Coach Esteban Chavez said his team’s 3-0 win over the Tigers Saturday at Maranatha High came more in spite of the previous day’s monumental defeat of Chadwick than because of it. “We didn’t really take control of the game until the end,” said Chavez, whose team moved closer to solidifying at least a third-place finish in league with the win. “They got drained emotionally, physically and psychologically yesterday because they left everything [on the field]
SPORTS
By Gabriel Rizk | January 29, 2010
SOUTHEAST GLENDALE — While the game seemed all but over after the first 10 minutes of the second half, the final 10 minutes of Thursday’s Pacific League girls’ soccer match between Hoover High and host Glendale had all the intensity and action befitting the most heated rivalry in town. After getting within a goal of the Nitros, whom they had once trailed by as many as three goals, the Tornadoes perked up and honed in on the tying tally with eight minutes left to play.
SPORTS
By Gabriel Rizk | January 14, 2010
LA CRESCENTA — Soccer is an 80-minute game — a fact that the members of the Crescenta Valley High and Glendale boys’ soccer teams are well aware of, but apparently prone to forget occasionally. There were several lead changes during Wednesday’s Pacific League match at Crescenta Valley and each goal scored seemed to act as a momentum shifter, but not in the typical context. First it was Crescenta Valley scoring early then disappearing for the remainder of the first half.