Girls’ soccer: Breaking down the Southern Section DI playoff pairings

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Quick recap: Last season, Mater Dei snapped Upland’s 60-game unbeaten streak to win the division championship, 1-0, on a goal by Lindsey Brown.

Now, on to this year...

The favorite:

Top-seeded Long Beach Wilson. The Bruins (23-0-4, 12-0-0 Moore champion) are a talented bunch that came together after winning the Aliso Cup and the Mater Dei Premier Invitational tournament in back-to-back weeks earlier this season. They boast the division’s best offense and defense, having scored 95 goals while only allowing eight. Senior forward Samantha Prochnow led the way with 21 goals and 14 assists. Senior goalkeeper Lacey Heck finished the season with a goal-against average of 0.32 and 21 shutouts.

The contenders: Esperanza (18-3-2, 8-2 Sunset co-champion), San Clemente (19-3-6, 7-1-3 South Coast champion), Los Alamitos (15-5-6,8-2 Sunset co-champion) and Palos Verdes (18-1-3, 6-1-3 Bay No. 2).

The dark horse: Santa Margarita (12-2-8, 2-0-6 Trinity No. 3). The Eagles were section champions in 1997, 1998, 1999 and 2001, so it’s hard to call them a dark horse. That’s what they are, though. Santa Margarita had an up-and-down season that had more downs than ups. But don’t overlook them. The Eagles have talent -- seven players are headed to Division I college programs next year -- and their coach, Chuck Morales, is one of the best in the Southland.

Four players to watch: senior Danielle Russell, defense, Wilson; freshman Shannelle Simien, forward, Los Alamitos; senior Justyne Freud, defense, Mater Dei; junior Lauren Kennedy, forward, Esperanza.

The Southern Section girls’ soccer playoff schedules are here.

-- Jaime Cardenas

-- Image from www.jupiterimages.com