LaSalle Ties Chaminade, 1-1, in Soccer

Before his team’s Santa Fe League soccer game with unbeaten LaSalle, Chaminade Coach Paul Chapel reviewed the Eagles’ lineup--or the lack of it.

Three Chaminade starters were out--one with an illness, two with injuries--and Brett Smith was wearing a cast on his arm, the result of an auto accident. But if Tuesday’s game was an indication of the way Chaminade played the entire season, it’s a wonder the whole team wasn’t in traction.

The teams fought to a tie, 1-1, in a physical match that saw one player leave injured, two players ejected and two others presented with yellow cards.

The tie gave LaSalle (9-0-1, 12-5-2 overall) its eighth straight Santa Fe League championship.

“The score was kind of in between,” Chapel said. “I think we won. I say we outplayed them for most of the game. We played outstanding.”

The statistics favored LaSalle.

The Lancers outshot Chaminade, 17-5. LaSalle kept the ball in Chaminade’s end most of the first half. It was only strong defensive play by Troy Kirk, Chuck Brown and Eagles’ goalkeeper Jeff Novak that kept the Lancers from scoring more.

In fact, Kirk got too carried away with the physical play and received a yellow card late in the first half. He was ejected in the second half after roughing up LaSalle goalkeeper Bill Young.

It turned out to be a bad day for goalkeepers all around.

Minutes after the Kirk incident, LaSalle’s Casey Pirih was ejected after he ran over Novak for the second time.

In scoring, LaSalle struck first--and second and third.

Kirk’s yellow-card violation, which took place in the goalkeeper’s box, was followed by a direct penalty kick for LaSalle.

Rick Tucker fired the first shot for LaSalle, which was saved by Novak. The officials ruled that Novak moved before the shot, however, and the kick was repeated.

Tucker fired again and the ball went in, but the officials ruled that other LaSalle players encroached, so the attempt was again repeated.

Pirih fired in the next shot for a 1-0 LaSalle lead.

Chaminade tied it just before halftime on a header by Steve Orr. Steve Baumgartner had the assist on an indirect penalty kick.

Chaminade (8-1-1, 12-6-2 overall) finished second in league and will start the Southern Section 2-A playoffs next week.

Alemany 6, Saugus 1--Kelly Cook scored three goals Wednesday to lead the Indian Maidens. Lisa Gill, Shannon Lambert and Sondra Shatkin each added one for Alemany.

Alemany is 9-0 in the Golden League, 17-3-1 overall. Saugus is 0-9 in league.