Notre Dame

Charles Rich CRESCENTA VALLEY HIGH -- The offseason couldn't have been more tantalizing for Crescenta Valley High girls' water polo player Jessie Stiles. The span began in February when CV was eliminated in the first round of the CIF Southern Section Division III playoffs by Chadwick High. That left Stiles, who finished second on the team with 40 goals last season, to play a nine-month waiting game that she believed lasted an eternity in between competitive matches.

Hamlet Nalbandyan SHERMAN OAKS -- Glen Appels and his St. Francis High boys' soccer team was as relaxed and laid back on the sidelines as a team could be, and for good reason. With 10 seniors on the team and a wealth of talent, St. Francis is prospering. Monday, that continued as Appels' squad dominated a good Sherman Oaks Notre Dame High team, 3-0, in a Mission League match at Notre Dame. St. Francis (12-2-3, 2-0 in league) outplayed Notre Dame in almost every aspect, especially when its first unit was in. St. Francis had 14 shots on goal and limited Notre Dame (4-5-3, 1-2)

LA CANADA FLINTRIDGE - For all the peaks and valleys the members of the Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy volleyball team has encountered this season, there's been one constant that's worked in their favor - mastering the defending league champion. The Tologs proved it once earlier and had a second opportunity to showcase their skills and try to conquer powerful Sherman Oaks Notre Dame again on Thursday night. The chance wasn't squandered, perhaps leaving the door slightly ajar to grab a possible at-large playoff berth.

Erik Boal FRIEDMAN FIELD -- Two yards. Six feet. Seventy-two inches. That was the distance separating the St. Francis High football team from a spectacular fourth-quarter comeback against Sherman Oaks Notre Dame High in Friday night's Mission League contest at Friedman Field. Following a Notre Dame field goal with 2:36 remaining, the Golden Knights marched 78 yards in 12 plays down to their opponent's two-yard line. But on third-and-goal with four seconds remaining, Matt Milton was stopped for no gain, allowing Notre Dame to hold on for a 13-7 victory.

LA CAÑADA - Victories and goal scoring have been nonexistent of late for the St. Francis High soccer team. It's led to St. Francis limping to the finish line with a playoff berth still to be claimed. St. Francis had an opportunity to curb its woes and wrap up a trip to the postseason Monday night in a Mission League home match against Sherman Oaks Notre Dame. Unfortunately for St. Francis, it remained stagnant, surrendering three first-half goals en route to a 4-0 defeat. “I'm disappointed with this effort and we had a nightmarish first half,” said St. Francis Coach Glen Appels, whose team was shut out for the fourth match in a row and hasn't scored a goal since a 2-0 league win against Alemany on Jan. 23. “We haven't gotten out of the gate early and we've been a step slower.” St. Francis dropped to 6-10-5, 4-6-1 in league for third place with 13 points.

Charles Rich SHERMAN OAKS -- It's come to the point where the St. Francis High boys' soccer team can only help themselves. There's a possibility that several other Mission League squads could supply a boost for the Golden Knights if they are to claim a second consecutive league title and grab a spot in the postseason next month. Rather than wait for any outside help in a league that's normally excelled in the game of hopscotch, Ryan Shaw immediately decided to take matters into his own hands.

Staff BOYS' WATER POLO CV 15, Notre Dame 10: With the win Friday, the Falcons (3-1) redeemed themselves from a 11-10 loss to Dos Pueblos the day before in the Jim Toring Invitational at Harvard-Westlake High. CV handed Notre Dame its fifth loss of the year. Ben Tickner led CV with five goals. Rounding out CV's scoring were Jeff Little with four, David Mulcahey with three, Steve Han with two and Ted Kim with one. Goalie Mike Hoy had 11 saves.

Charles Rich NORTHRIDGE -- Nathan Terrazone couldn't worry about a thumb injury with a trip to the CIF prelims at stake. All the St. Francis High shot putter could focus on during Friday's Mission League track and field finals was the opportunity to use his rejuvenated strength to claim a league championship. The senior accomplished his mission Friday with a throw of 49 feet 10 1/2 to win the league title at Cal State Northridge. Terrazone, who tore a ligament in his right thumb while playing tight end for the school's football team will be in the CIF prelims next Friday at Cerritos College in Norwalk.

Hamlet Nalbandyan GLENDALE SPORTS COMPLEX -- Natalee Harrison and Meghan O'Kane might not hit the ball the farthest, but their presence atop the Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy lineup goes a long way. Monday, the duo won a game for the Tologs all with its speed, as Sacred Heart beat Mission League foe Sherman Oaks Notre Dame High, 1-0, in a nine-inning softball game at the Glendale Sports Complex. The Tologs scored the winning run as Caroline Hugar singled in O'Kane from second in the bottom of the ninth.

Hamlet Nalbandyan PASADENA -- Of the 13 runs scored by the St. Francis and Sherman Oaks Notre Dame high baseball teams Friday, just four were earned, thanks to a combined eight errors. That's about all one needs to know about the quality of baseball played at Jackie Robinson Field in Brookside Park. In a game that wasn't too kind on the eyes, Notre Dame came from behind to beat St. Francis, 7-6, in a Mission League game. Senior Matt Hirsh was the tough-luck loser again, dropping to 0-3 on the year.

LA CAÑADA - After opening its campaign at home earlier this month, the St. Francis High volleyball team went on the road for the next four matches, including its first three in the Mission League. The Golden Knights finally found their way home Tuesday evening to host league opponent Sherman Oaks Notre Dame. As it turned out, the homecourt advantage was not enough to overcome the crisp play of Notre Dame and the Golden Knights, plagued by mistakes throughout, were swept, 25-15, 25-16, 25-21, in their Mission League home opener.

GLENDALE - Through nearly the first month of the season, it's been enjoyable for the members of the St. Francis High tennis team to arrive at the court ready to compete. Backed with a steady group of singles players and more depth than its had in recent memory, St. Francis is looking to make a charge for a top-three spot in the Mission League and a postseason appearance for the second time in three seasons. “They have that confidence and it starts with coming to practice prepared,” said St. Francis Coach Ron Zambrano, whose team registered a 15-3 league home win against Sherman Oaks Notre Dame on Thursday at Fremont Tennis Center.

SHERMAN OAKS - With the playoffs set to begin next week, the members of the St. Francis High basketball team are still scrambling to get back on track. St. Francis figured it could begin its path to right the ship when it faced host Sherman Oaks Notre Dame on Monday in a Mission League game. Notre Dame had yet to win a league game. Notre Dame must have forgotten it hadn't won in a long time, and promptly caught St. Francis off guard to post a 48-44 victory. Slumping St. Francis, ranked third in the latest CIF Southern Section Division III-A poll, dipped to 15-10, 4-7 in league.

GIRLS' VOLLEYBALL Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy 3, Sherman Oaks Notre Dame 0: Kayla Lund and Katie Conley finished with 13 and 12 kills, respectively, to lead the visiting Tologs to a 25-15, 25-16, 25-22 Mission League win Thursday. Flintridge Sacred Heart (17-3, 8-1 in league) got 30 assists from Sophia Coffey, 15 digs from Emily Develle and four aces from Ally Clapp. Rio Hondo Prep 3, Flintridge Prep 0: Dani Motte collected 13 kills Thursday for the visiting Rebels, who suffered a 25-8, 25-11, 25-19 Prep League defeat.

LA CAÑADA - The Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy volleyball team notched a big win Tuesday evening in a Mission League match with visiting Sherman Oaks Notre Dame. The two squads went into the match with identical records in league play and it was evident in an opening see-saw game. Ultimately, the Tologs prevailed in the tightly contested frame and went on to win the next two more handily in a 25-21, 25-12, 25-19 sweep. It is the third straight victory for the Tologs, who have matches against Mission League-winless Chaminade and Alemany before a rematch with first-place Harvard-Westlake on Oct. 24. In the meantime, Flintridge Sacred Heart Coach Ernest Banaag likes the progression his team is making.

LA CAÑADA - Loaded with high expectations, the Flintridge Prep boys' water polo team, ranked fifth in CIF Southern Section Division V, stumbled a bit out of the gate. But after Tuesday afternoon, the Rebels believe they've righted their ship and are headed on the right course. Bolstered by a match-high five goals from senior John Treinen and an all-around excellent effort from senior Ethan Vandeventer, Flintridge Prep easily won its home opener, besting Sherman Oaks Notre Dame, 11-5, in nonleague action.

LA CAÑADA - Victories and goal scoring have been nonexistent of late for the St. Francis High soccer team. It's led to St. Francis limping to the finish line with a playoff berth still to be claimed. St. Francis had an opportunity to curb its woes and wrap up a trip to the postseason Monday night in a Mission League home match against Sherman Oaks Notre Dame. Unfortunately for St. Francis, it remained stagnant, surrendering three first-half goals en route to a 4-0 defeat. “I'm disappointed with this effort and we had a nightmarish first half,” said St. Francis Coach Glen Appels, whose team was shut out for the fourth match in a row and hasn't scored a goal since a 2-0 league win against Alemany on Jan. 23. “We haven't gotten out of the gate early and we've been a step slower.” St. Francis dropped to 6-10-5, 4-6-1 in league for third place with 13 points.

LA CANADA -   With no easy games in the Mission League in boys' basketball, St. Francis High came into Monday's league matchup with Sherman Oaks Notre Dame in sixth place. But three of the Golden Knights' losses in league were by a combined total of eight points, and if the ball had bounced a little differently they could be sitting in third place. However, with finishing among the top teams in league already extinguished, St. Francis looked to make it a season sweep against the last-place Knights.

LA CANADA FLINTRIDGE - It's expected the first couple of weeks of the season will be a time for the members of the Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy volleyball team to make adjustments. After missing the playoffs last season, the Tologs decided to restructure the program. In stepped first-year coach Ernest Banaag, who led Mayfield to three straight CIF championships between 2008-10. For Banaag, the beginning of the season will be a time for tinkering with lineups and learning the strengths and weaknesses of the Tologs.