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.