Girls soccer: Look who’s the top seeded team ... again

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Were those reports of the El Camino Real girls’ soccer team being down and vulnerable exaggerated? Or premature?

The seven-time defending City Section champions (9-8-2) won their last seven games, allowing only two goals in that span, to claim the West Valley League title. El Camino Real goes into the playoffs, which begin on Friday, as the top seed in a 32-team field.

‘To get the No. 1 seed is pretty gratifying,’ Coach Eric Choi said. ‘It was a tough start to the season with all the injuries, but we knew we had the talent and ability. I told the girls it’s not how you start, it’s how you finish.’

El Camino, which opens the playoffs against No. 32 Contreras (8-4-1), gets a boost with the return of midfielder Megan Quinn, who missed nearly all of the season while recovering from knee surgery. Quinn played in the final minutes of ECR’s 5-0 victory over Birmingham last Friday. Choi hopes to use her more as the playoffs progress.

‘If she is fully healthy by the quarters or semis, we have an extra weapon,’ he said.

-- Mike Terry