Girls Soccer: Tologs Cruise Past Horizon

After a grueling four-game stretch against some of the best high school soccer teams in the nation, the CIF-Southern Section Division I champion Flintridge Sacred Heart soccer team got a well deserved break from tough competition Tuesday afternoon.

Though their play against Horizon Christian Academy (the San Diego Section Division V champion) was at times lackluster, the Tologs were dominant nonetheless, scoring a goal two minutes into the game and cruising to a 6-1 win at Occidental College in the first round of the CIF Southern California Division III Regional Soccer Championships.

The top-seeded Tologs face St. Margaret’s (CIF-SS Div. VI champion) at home on Thursday at 4 p.m. St. Margaret’s defeated Central Valley Christian 2-1 in overtime on Tuesday.

It was quickly evident that Panthers were woefully overmatched against a Tologs squad now ranked No. 1 in the nation by ESPN Rise.

The Tologs (22-1-1) controlled the game from the get-go, and it wasn't long until they put one in the back of the net. In the game's second minute, junior Katie Johnson received a pass from sophomore Krista Meaglia in front of the net, used her body to ward off a defender and fired a shot past the Horizon goalie for a 1-0 lead.

But after that early goal, the Tologs’ concentration seemed to waver. It was as if they played on cruise control, knowing that their talent alone was enough overwhelm the Panthers.

That kind of performance didn’t come as a surprise to FSHA co-coach Kathy Desmond, who had a hunch there would be a championship hangover from Friday night.

“I kind of suspected that we’d come out this way,” Desmond said. “After Friday night, it’s hard to regroup.”

Tera Trujillo assisted on goals by Breeana Koemans and Johnson in the 16^th and 18^th minutes, as the Tologs increased their lead to 3-0.

That’s where the score remained for the rest of the half, but it could have been a lot worse. The Tologs outshot Horizon 22-1 in the first half.

While Flintridge Sacred Heart had little trouble dispatching Horizon, Desmond said she felt the Panthers were a tougher out than last year’s first round opponent, LACES, whom the Tologs beat 7-0.

“This team was tougher,” Desmond said. “I’m actually grateful for that. It would not have prepared us for Thursday if it had been like last year.”

The Tologs extended their advantage to 5-0 early in the second half, thanks to two goals from sophomore Savannah Viola.

Viola headed in a cross from FSHA senior Natalie Zeenni in the 46^th minute and then ripped a shot into the upper left corner from 25 yards out in the 48^th minute.

Horizon (10-11-4) managed to get on the board in the 60^th minute on a goal by Sarah Pullman. Pullman’s goal was the first allowed by FSHA since a 3-1 quarterfinal victory over Tesoro on Feb. 24.

While Zeenni conceded they would need a better effort to advance past Thursday, the Tologs seemed to enjoy their chance to relax en route to an easy win.

“We got the job done, which is the most important part,” Zeenni said. “It feels good — needed a break.”

FSHA also got a chance to open up its bench beginning late in the first half, and let some of its reserves get playoff experience.

“It was nice for everybody to get an opportunity to play,” Desmond said. “All the girls who’ve been practicing with us for the three weeks of playoffs.”

Freshman Micaela Snashall made the most of her extended time on the field, scoring a late goal.

“Shout out to Micaela Snashall – scored a goal,” Zeenni said.