Crescenta Valley girls’ soccer falls to rival, out of first place
LA CRESCENTA — The Crescenta Valley High girls’ soccer team was in position to remain tied atop the Pacific League with rival Arcadia.
But that hope was lost in the closing moments of Monday’s match when the two league powers met for the first time, leaving the Falcons to chase the Apaches over the next three weeks.
Crescenta Valley yielded the winning goal by Hannah Mushisky with six minutes remaining in a 2-1 defeat.
Arcadia (13-3-1, 8-0 in league for 24 points) occupied first place by itself, holding a three-point lead over Crescenta Valley (12-3, 7-1 for 21 points). The Apaches and Falcons each have five league matches left, including a season-finale contest against one another Feb. 9 at Arcadia.
“It was definitely a battle,” Crescenta Valley Coach Tyraysha Peterson said. “We were right there with them and we didn’t capitalize on our opportunities and they converted on their chance late in the game.
“So, we’ll bounce back. There’s still a lot of games left. We’re not going to hang our heads. We’ll look to get better right away.”
Mushisky took a nifty cross from Serena Rosas and headed the ball past goalkeeper Nicole Jabourian to give the Apaches, who have won five consecutive league championships, the lead for good.
About seven minutes earlier, Mushisky had a shot stopped by goalkeeper Grace Zaragoza (the Falcons use two to three goalies in most matches). The ball struck Zaragoza, who came in at the start of the second half after Jabourian started the match, near her right eye. Zaragoza was taken out as a precaution and replaced by Jabourian.
“It’s about going out there and being able to grind it out,” Arcadia Coach Ryan Piszyk said. “We had to be patient and stick to our plan.
“Hannah has a nose for the ball and she knows how to finish chances. We still have a lot of work ahead in league. Anybody can slip up, so you have to be ready each game.”
Crescenta Valley, which ended Arcadia’s 43-league match winning streak last season, jumped out to a 1-0 lead. Brianna McReynolds got to a loose ball inside the box and rolled a shot past Arcadia goalkeeper Anais Uriarte in the 19th minute.
Unfortunately for the Falcons, the lead didn’t last long, as Mushisky tied it in the 21st minute.
“We had some chances and we couldn’t convert,” McReynolds said. “We’ll try to come out with even more intensity the next time we play Arcadia.”
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Charles Rich, charles.rich@latimes.com
Twitter: @TCNCharlesRich
