FALL SPORTS ROUNDUP : Urquilla Quiets Taft in Granada Hills Win

The Granada Hills High soccer team improved on a halftime tie by scoring three goals in the second period Thursday in a 4-1 win against Taft.

The breakthrough came after Granada Hills switched goalies at the half and Douglas Urquilla stopped Taft from scoring.

The Taft goalie couldn’t do the same. Highlanders’ Fabio Fortunato, John Markoe and Mike Sacchetti all scored in the last half.

Granada Hills opened the game with a score by Brent Small.

The Highlanders move to 3-1 in the West Valley League and 4-2 overall. Taft is still winless in league, falling to 0-3-1.

Westlake knocked Mary Star of the Sea out of the Southern Section girls 2-A volleyball playoffs, 15-5, 15-6, 15-10.

Outside hitters Alissa Evans and Dana Simone led Westlake with seven and six kills respectively.

Westlake’s April Devine and Tristin Graham had no problem blocking Mary Star of the Sea’s lone attacker. Also helping the defensive game for Westlake was Karen Margowitz who had nine digs.

The Royal water polo team moved one round closer to becoming Southern Section 3-A Division champions Thursday after knocking out Santa Barbara, 17-6.

Senior Dain Hurst led the Highlanders with four goals. Teammates Rob Toring and Greg Frazier scored three goals each.

Royal’s goalie, Todd Jacobson, anchored the second half with six saves. The game was played at Royal and marked the first round in a five-round playoff schedule. The next round will be played Saturday.

Calabasas swept the St. Joseph’s girls volleyball team out of the Southern Section playoffs, 15-8, 15-13, 15-12, in the first round.

Middle blockers Sandi Thomsen and Tracey Gonzales fueled the Calabasas team with 14 and 13 kills, respectively.

Captain Heidi Thorsen sparked the Coyote momentum by serving eight aces. Outside hitter Kelly Martin led the Calabasas effort.

Lynn Goldstein led the defensive attack against the Los Robles League team with nine saving digs.

Chaminade’s Daiva Tomkus fired 22 kills to defeat Marymount, 15-5, 14-6, 15-7, 15-3, in the first round of the Southern Section girls volleyball playoffs.

Tomkus, a 6-1 middle blocker, also led the Eagle defense with 14 blocks.

Chaminade, representing the San Fernando Valley League, will continue play Saturday, while Marymount of Sunshine League was knocked out of competition.

The Louisville girls volleyball team came from behind to defeat Beverly Hills, 10-15, 15-13, 15-11, 15-10, in the first round of the Southern Section playoffs.

Tina Kohler organized the Louisville team after the first game. Tricia Duffy and Nancy Hawkins led Louisville with 10 and nine kills, respectively.

In what Coach Cindy Noblitt said was their best game ever, the L. A. Baptist girls volleyball team beat Maranatha, 15-7, 9-15, 15-9, 15-12, in the first round of the Southern Section playoffs.

L. A. Baptist co-captain Susie Duane set up Erika Johnson and Kendra Frazier, who accumulated 17 kills between them. Junior Laurie Evans led the defense in holding Maranatha in the last two games.

Royal High wasted little time in disposing Santa Maria in the first round of the Southern Section girls volleyball playoffs. The Highlanders, co-champions of the Marmonte League, took the match in three games, 15-3, 15-0, 15-11.

Royal, which improved to 13-2, was led by Julie MacLean’s nine kills. Teammates Sara Toring and Tiffany Neser added six kills each. Brenda Anderson scored 13 points and had four aces.

North Hollywood’s soccer team tied Palisades, 1-1.

Eduardo Hernandez scored the lone goal for North Hollywood on an assist by Francisco Matheu. The defensive struggle held at North Hollywood Park was controlled by North Hollywood goalies Jorge Camacho and Larry Miller.

The Chatsworth soccer team remained undefeated in four West Valley League games after beating Canoga, 6-1 at Canoga Park.