CHS girls soccer headed to the big game

Photo by Pam Garvin at www.chsgirlssoccer.org

Last year, the Claremont High School varsity girls soccer team could only watch as their male counterparts captured the CIF Southern Section Division 2 championship. But the tables have turned this year and the girls squad will be playing Bishop Amat in the CIF-SS Division 3 championship Saturday at Mission Viejo High School at 5 p.m.

Claremont avenged a loss and a tie to St. Lucy's earlier in the season by defeating the Regents, 1-0, before an excited CHS crowd on Tuesday afternoon at CHS Stadium. Wolfpack midfielder Madison Stark scored the game's only goal early in the contest and the Claremont defense took care of the rest by holding St. Lucy's scoreless en route to its sixth straight shutout victory.

Tuesday's win was special for Claremont for several reasons. First, it propels them into the CIF championship match which I believe they will win. Second, it was over rival St. Lucy's, who handed the Wolfpack its only loss of the season. This means that CHS has now at least tied or beaten every team it has faced this season. And lastly, the win over the Regents shows how far the girls soccer program has come in recent years. It was just 3 years ago that the Pack didn't even qualify for the playoffs.

My colleague here at the COURIER, City Reporter Beth Hartnett, and I have kidded around for the past few days about Tuesday's match because she is a St. Lucy's alumna. Being true to her roots, she cheered when St. Lucy's defeated Claremont earlier in the season and nodded in approval when CHS could only play to a tie against the Regents in the second meeting. But it looks like the Wolfpack got the last laugh (sorry Beth, couldn't resist) and it couldn't have come at a better time.

Slow start leads to first round exit for Webb basketball

The Webb School varsity boys basketball team trailed early on Wednesday against Ribet Academy in a CIF Southern Section Division 5AA first round contest and never recovered, resulting in a 66-47 loss to the Fighting Frogs in Los Angeles.

The defeat marks the 2nd elimination of a Gauls team from the playoffs, following a 62-12 loss to Warren last Saturday in the first round of the CIF-SS Division 6 wrestling tournament. The Webb boys soccer team is still alive in the Division 6 boys soccer tournament and will play at Desert Mirage in a first round match tonight after a 6-0 triumph over Fairmont Prep on Tuesday.

The Claremont High School boys soccer team will also be in action tonight against Tustin at 5:30 p.m. at CHS Stadium. Check back tomorrow for more local CIF results.

Thursday, Feb. 16
Division 2 Boys Soccer First Round
Tustin @ CHS, 5:30 p.m.

Division 6 Boys Soccer First Round
Webb @ Desert Mirage, TBA

Friday, Feb. 17
Division 3 Girls Soccer First Round
Bishop Montgomery @ CHS, TBA

Saturday, Feb. 18
Division 2A Girls Basketball First Round
CHS @ Saugus, 7 p.m.

Webb boys soccer advances to first round

The Webb Gauls varsity boys soccer team is still in contention for this year's CIF Southern Section Division 6 championship after shutting out Fairmont Prep, 6-0, in a wild card match on Tuesday night.

The Gauls took a 2-0 lead within the first 2 minutes of play and went on to take a 5-0 lead at the half. Webb was led by Joseph Rode and Austin Plyley, who each scored 2 goals for the Gauls, who only allowed one shot on goal from Fairmont Prep.

Webb will now play at Desert Mirage in a Division 6 first round match on Thursday. Check below for an updated CIF schedule.

Wednesday, Feb. 15
Division 5AA Boys Basketball First Round
Webb @ Ribet Academy, 7 p.m.

Thursday, Feb. 16
Division 2 Boys Soccer First Round
Tustin @ CHS, 5:30 p.m.

Division 6 Boys Soccer First Round
Webb @ Desert Mirage, TBA

Friday, Feb. 17
Division 3 Girls Soccer First Round
Winner of Bishop Montgomery/Atascadero @ CHS, TBA

Saturday, Feb. 18
Division 2A Girls Basketball First Round
CHS @ Saugus, 7 p.m.

Claremont CIF-SS Southern Section schedule

The CIF Southern Section playoffs involving Claremont teams kicked off last Saturday where the Webb wrestling team lost to Warren High School in the first round of the Division 6 playoff meet, 62-12. Warren went on to win the CIF-SS championship later that day.

This week's action involves the Claremont High School boys soccer, girls soccer and girls basketball teams, as well as the Webb boys soccer and boys basketball teams. Check for the full schedule below and expects updates throughout the week on the blog:

Tuesday, Feb. 14
Division 6 Boys Soccer Wild Card - Webb @ Fairmont Prep

Wednesday, Feb. 15
Division 5AA Boys Basketball First Round - Webb @ Ribet Academy, 7 p.m.

Thursday, Feb. 16
Division 2 Boys Soccer First Round - Winner of Tustin/Palm Springs @ CHS, 5:30 p.m.

Friday, Feb. 17
Division 3 Girls Soccer First Round - Winner of Bishop Montgomery/Atascadero @ CHS, TBA

Saturday, Feb. 18
Division 2A Girls Basketball First Round - CHS @ Saugus, 7 p.m.

Check out Wednesday's COURIER for a full story on the recent CIF-SS playoff brackets.

CHS Wolfpack boys soccer vie for 7th league win

(#3 - Claremont High School soccer standout Denes Kantor)

The Claremont High School varsity boys soccer team will have the opportunity to improve to 7-0 in Sierra League play with a win over Chino Hills tonight.

The Wolfpack formerly defeated the Huskies, 2-1, in the 2 teams' last meeting on January 13 and is currently on a 6-game winning streak. Led by Denes Kantor (8 goals, 11 assists) and Daniel Kim (7 goals, 7 assists), Claremont has outscored its Sierra League opponents by a 20-2 margin in 6 matches.

I'm looking forward to seeing the soccer team in action again as the last time the COURIER provided coverage of the soccer squad was back in December. Look for a full story on tonight's match in Saturday's edition of the COURIER.