Lightning blanked at home

Sixteen hours after finishing a cold and windy game on their home field, members of the Sage Hill School girls’ soccer team had another one Saturday morning.

Winds were still present for the 11 a.m. start time. But the result was not.

Visiting Calvary Chapel dominated possession and earned a 3-0 victory in the nonleague game.

Sage Hill, coming off a 2-0 win against Jordan in that season opener Friday night, couldn’t replicate the result.

“To be honest, we looked totally different [Friday] night than we did today,” Sage Hill Coach Mike Hammond said. “Obviously this is a better team we played, but two days in a row, playing in the night then playing in the morning is pretty tough when they’re fresh. It’s not an excuse. It’s just kind of reality.”

The reality also is that the Lightning (1-1) are a younger team this year after graduating nine starters. Much of the firepower from last year is gone, including forwards Lexi Magliarditi (Duke) and Claire Novotny (Grand Canyon University).

Sage Hill this year is building with young pieces like freshman midfielder Alana Karro, who impressed Saturday with her skills on the ball. Another key piece of the midfield also is new, but that’s because senior Maya Roston missed last year after tearing her anterior cruciate ligament.

It was her second torn ACL; she also missed her freshman season. She was one of two goal-scorers for the Lightning in Friday’s win, along with senior forward Marina Wild.

“It’s just really good to be playing again,” said Roston, who has committed to the University of Denver. “There’s some good younger players that are coming in. Alana is a really good freshman, super-skilled. I like playing with her, and there are some other sophomores who weren’t here last year that are stepping up this year.

“There’s so many new people in the lineup. We just have to get used to playing with each other, and figure out how each of us plays. Just figuring out who’s what-footed, and I often play through balls. Once the forwards realize what each player does, we’ll be able to figure each other out and definitely play better.”

Calvary Chapel (1-0) consistently challenged the Sage Hill defense, led by senior goalie Sarah Lowey and fellow senior Julia Lowe. Lowey made a nice save midway through the first half, diving to her left to stop a shot from Calvary junior striker Jackie Siedel. But moments later, Siedel fed fellow junior Bailey Coffin for a goal in the 19th minute.

Two minutes later, it was Siedel’s turn, as she lofted a shot from the right from 25 yards out cross-cage and into the goal. The Eagles completed their scoring just before halftime, when Coffin blasted a shot also from the right into the upper “V.”

Sage Hill was unable to seriously challenge the Calvary defense led by senior goalie Gabi Haw and center backs Emily Larsen and Kendra Koerth until the closing minutes of the game. That was when Karro fed players like sophomores Michelle Hung and Olivia Lowe for opportunities, but Haw made the save each time.

Overall, Calvary Chapel Coach Scott Larsen was happy with his team’s season opener. The Eagles are traditionally a strong program and contend for the Orange Coast League title. Last year, they finished a close second to Estancia.

“Our best chances, we didn’t score,” Larsen said. “We hit a couple of shots from far away, but you know, you’re just being opportunistic at that point. But I thought our build-up was good. I thought we played out of the back well, which was exciting to see for this team being so early in the season.”

It’s still early in the season for the Lightning, too. They continue with their next game at Irvine on Tuesday at 5 p.m. And Hammond is not going to use his team’s relative youth as an excuse.

Sage Hill is also trying to improve on its league placing this season after finishing second to rival St. Margaret’s in the Academy League last year.

“I think we’ll be OK,” Hammond said. “In league, I think we’ll do pretty well ... To be honest, the fitness level isn’t quite there yet.”

The Lightning do have players who know how to win on their roster. The Lowe sisters, Maya Jaffe, Ashton Carroll and Alice Warden were all on the Sage girls’ cross country team that placed 15th at the CIF State Finals in Division 5.