Southern Section Soccer Championships : Holt Gets Record 23rd Shutout; Royal Beats Newbury Park, 1-0

The Royal High School boys’ soccer team won its first Southern Section 4-A championship with a 1-0 victory over Marmonte League rival Newbury Park Friday night at Gahr High in Cerritos.

The win was the 23rd shutout of the season for Royal goalkeeper Karl Holt, setting a Southern Section record.

Striker Luis Gutierrez scored the game’s only goal midway through the first half after taking a pass off the head of teammate Thomas Cavner and firing it past Newbury Park goalkeeper Richard Bengston from point-blank range.

Royal (26-1-2), the Marmonte League champion, outshot third-place Newbury Park, 33-14. Newbury Park (19-6-1) had been the only team to defeat Royal this season.

“I knew it was going to be close,” Royal first-year Coach Peter Schraml said.