GIRLS’ SOCCER PLAYOFFS : Laguna Hills Ousts Canyon on Inoue’s Goal in Overtime

Sophomore Karine Inoue’s shot sailed out of Canyon goalkeeper Robin Schmidt’s reach 11 minutes into sudden death, giving Laguna Hills a 2-1 victory in Division II girls’ soccer playoffs and a berth in the quarterfinals.

“I just wanted to do it for the seniors,” Inoue said. “Someone had to put it away to win the game.”

Laguna Hills (15-7-3), a wild-card team from the Pacific Coast League, got both of its goals from Inoue. Her first goal, five minutes into the second half, came off a throw-in from junior Carrie Geyer. Inoue, a first-year varsity player, stepped in front of her defender and put a header into the corner of the goal.

Canyon (13-3-4), the Century League’s second-place representative, responded four minutes later when junior defender Carrie Jennings put a free kick in front of the net and sophomore Kristen Thompson headed it into the goal around freshman keeper Deanna Moore.

“I’m ecstatic,” Hawk fifth-year Coach Kevin Macare said of the victory. “The heart and desire they showed today, I haven’t seen in a long time.”

Laguna Hills, which hasn’t advanced beyond the first round since 1988, will play fourth-seeded La Crescenta Crescenta Valley in the quarterfinals Thursday.