Girls’ soccer: Desert Christian shifts to a higher gear

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Coach Deann Lewis was hoping a wake-up call in the first round of the Southern Section Division VI girls’ soccer playoffs was incentive enough for Desert Christian of Lancaster to switch off cruise control. So far, anyway, the Knights have proven her right.

Desert Christian scored twice in the final eight minutes against Fillmore last Saturday to avoid an early exit from the tournament. Since that great escape the Knights have shifted to a higher gear, outscoring their last two foes, 12-0.

Kristyn Richards scored twice and Cara Eskenazi and Shea Richards each added a goal in Wednesday’s 4-0 victory over Western Christian. The Knights went to overdrive Friday, with Eskenazi scoring three times in an 8-0 quarterfinal rout of Animo.

That’s more in tune for a team accustomed to winning by ridiculously lopsided margins. In fact, according to MaxPreps.com, the unbeaten Knights have scored 168 goals and allowed only eight in 25 games. Oh yeah, they’ve also posted 17 shutouts.

The next pit stop for this well-oiled machine? Calabasas, for a semifinal game Tuesday at Liberty League champion Viewpoint.

-- Steve Galluzzo