Soccer regionals: Catholic teams advance to semis

Three Catholic school girls’ soccer teams are still in the hunt for CIF Southern California Regional championships after posting first round victories on Feb. 26.

In Division I, No. 1 J.Serra defeated eighth-seeded San Luis Obispo 3-0, extending the Lions’; dominance that saw them win the CIF-SS D-1 crown last weekend. And in Division III, No. 2 Flintridge Sacred Heart — the CIF-SS D-3 runner-up — romped over No. 7 New West Charter 7-0.

On Feb. 28, the Regional D-I semifinals find J.Serra (20-0-3) against No. 4 Academy of Our Lady of Peace (20-4-2). The Lions edged San Diego-based Academy 1-0 last Dec. 28 in tournament play.

In D-III, Flintridge Sacred Heart (12-5-3) plays No. 3 Grossmont of El Cajon (16-7-2). And in Division IV, No. 1 La Salle (18-5), after a first-round bye, plays No. 5 Westridge (12-7-4) in a matchup of two Pasadena schools who have not played each other this season.

Boys’ soccer

In boys’ first-round Division I Regional play Feb. 26, No. 3 Cathedral (22-3-2) stopped No. 6 Point Loma 3-1, and advanced to the Feb. 28 semifinals against second-seeded Torrey Pines of San Diego (16-2-7). Last Dec. 5, the Phantoms — runners-up in the CIF-SS D-1 playoffs — edged Torrey Pines 2-1 in non-league play.

Also in first-round Regional play, No. 4 Birmingham beat No. 5 Mater Dei 5-2 (D-1), and No. 3 La Puente edged No. 6 Bishop Diego 1-0 (D-IV).

Regional finals are scheduled March 2 in all divisions.

Mike Nelson is the former editor of The Tidings (predecessor of Angelus News).

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