Girls’ soccer: City Section quarterfinals are tough to predict

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In a blog last week I cited two potential upsets in the second round of the City Section Championship Division playoffs and I almost hit the jackpot. The one I nailed was No. 15 Birmingham‘s 2-1 victory over second-seeded Sylmar, definitely the surprise of the tournament so far.

The other game I said to watch out for was No. 7 Locke vs. No. 10 Hollywood, which went down to the wire before Locke finally prevailed on penalty kicks.

So what’s my ‘upset special’ for today’s quarterfinals? I’ll have to stick with Birmingham. If the Patriots are good enough to upset Sylmar I have to think they’re capable of beating Locke.

The other three games are all close calls. Defending champion El Camino Real will have its hands full with No. 9 Granada Hills and I won’t be shocked to see No. 12 Cleveland upend No. 4 Palisades. We’ll also learn how good No. 3 San Pedro really is. If the Pirates beat No. 11 Chatsworth I think they’ll make the finals.

I’m still picking Taft to win the Invitational Division. Why? No team the Toreadors play from here on will be tougher than those they faced game in and game out in the West Valley League, which has five teams in the elite eight of the Championship Division.

Well, those are my predictions. Whew, I’m glad I didn’t handicap the Small Schools Division.

-- Steve Galluzzo

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