Hart’s One-Two Combination Knocks Out Crescenta Valley

Erin Misaki and Laura Qualls have been double trouble for opponents of the Hart High girls’ soccer team all season, and Saturday was no exception.

The center midfielders gave Crescenta Valley fits, with Misaki scoring twice and Qualls once during a 3-1 victory in a Southern Section Division I first-round playoff match at Crescenta Valley.

Whereas Misaki uses speed and elusiveness, Qualls uses size and grit to power past defenders and unleash long-distance shots.

Saturday, Misaki opened the scoring in the second minute, banging a shot off the hands of Falcon goalkeeper Laura Fawcett before scoring on the rebound.

Crescenta Valley (16-4-2), the Pacific League champion, tied the match nine minutes later when Jana Barbaro knocked in the rebound of a shot by Rebecca Hidalgo.

The Indians took a 2-1 lead in the 57th minute, when a throw-in by Keeli Paden bounced untouched through a crowd at the top of the Falcon penalty area and Qualls scored her 26th goal from 15 yards.

In the 74th minute, Misaki scored her 19th goal, heading in a corner kick by Qualls.

“Teams try to [defend] Laura and I as well as they can, but one of us usually gets free,” Misaki said. “Today we outplayed them by controlling the ball on the ground.”

Hart (21-1-2), four-time Foothill League champion, will play host to Simi Valley, a 3-1 winner over Santa Monica, on Tuesday in a second-round match. The Indians can advance to the quarterfinals for the first time since 1994.

Crescenta Valley, which has qualified for the playoffs in each of its seven seasons, lost a first-round match for the fourth time.