HIGH SCHOOL SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIPS

Rancho Cucamonga Alta Loma 1, Irvine Woodbridge 1 (co-champions)--Gustav Gratzer’s shot rolled an inch wide with two minutes left as Woodbridge (20-5-3) was left with a tie in the Southern Section Division III final at Cerritos Gahr High.

Because section rules do not allow overtime or shootouts in championship soccer games, the Warriors won a share of their first boys’ soccer title and extended their unbeaten streak to 19 games. Alta Loma finished 25-3-4.

Top-seeded Alta Loma and Coach Michael Collins blamed officiating he said kept the pace of the game at a crawl.

“This most definitely feels like a loss,” Collins said.

In other boys’ games: Unseeded Santa Barbara upset top-seeded Long Beach Jordan, 3-0, in the Southern Section Division II final, and La Canada beat Cathedral City, 3-1, in the Division IV title game. Both games were held at Gahr High.

GIRLS

The Van Nuys Grant High girls’ soccer team needed the window of opportunity opened only a crack in the City Section Division 4-A championship game, scoring in the first half and hanging on to beat Chatsworth, 1-0, at East Los Angeles College.

The Lancers (18-3-1) made Nicole Bucciarelli’s goal in the 26th minute stand up, and stymied the Chancellors (17-2-1) with a superlative defensive performance.

In the seven-year history of girls’ City soccer, Grant and Chatsworth are the only two teams to win titles. The Lancers have won the last two after the Chancellors captured the first five.

“Their offense is very skilled, but our defense played with a lot of heart and muscle,” said Grant sweeper Marrica Pichaikul, who shouted instructions and inspired teammates. “They controlled the ball on the ground, and we knew we had to take it away.”

Early on, the contest featured key matchups at each end of the field. Pichaikul and Chatsworth’s star forward Denise Paul battled near the Lancers’ goal, while Chancellors’ sweeper Kim Pickup shut down Bucciarelli, who led City players with 48 goals this season.

With Bucciarelli smothered and midfielders Melinda, Michelle and Pamela George racing about and creating offensive opportunities, Chatsworth had the upper hand.

In the span of six minutes, things changed dramatically.

Pickup and Grant defender Trisha Tomono each received yellow cards for rough play after scuffling in the 19th minute. Six minutes later, Pickup entangled with Bucciarelli as the two competed for a loose ball and kicked at her after play had stopped, drawing a second yellow card and an automatic ejection.

Per a rule instituted this season, Chatsworth was allowed to continue with 11 players, but Chancellor Coach Jack Sidwell had no sooner sent a replacement onto the field before Grant took advantage of Pickup’s absence.

Grant center-midfielder Jamie Mond took a free kick 50 yards from the Chancellors’ goal, bouncing it into a crowd of players in the penalty area. Leaping above Chatsworth goalie Tawni Takagi, Bucciarelli headed the ball into the net.