Cougars Glad to Have Mater Dei Out of the Way

Capistrano Valley waved goodbye to Mater Dei in its final South Coast League meetings last week, and the Monarchs gave the Cougars a week to forget.

In girls’ soccer, Mater Dei upset top-ranked and previously unbeaten Capistrano Valley, 1-0. In boys’ soccer, unranked Mater Dei rallied for a 2-2 tie against Capistrano Valley, ranked ninth in the county.

In boys’ basketball, Mater Dei, ranked No. 1 in the county, trounced second-ranked Capistrano Valley, 68-53, outscoring the Cougars, 21-0, in the first quarter. In girls’ basketball, Mater Dei also cruised to an easy victory, 55-25.

So is Capistrano Valley disappointed Mater Dei is moving on to the Catholic Athletic Assn.? Are the Cougars dejected that they won’t get to test one of the area’s top athletic programs twice a season?

“I’m the happiest guy in the world that they’re leaving,” Capistrano Valley boys’ basketball Coach Brian Mulligan said. “Don’t get me wrong, they were good neighbors and they are classy people.

“[Mater Dei Coach] Gary McKnight already asked me if we would play them next year but I told him we needed at least one year to recover before we’d schedule them again.”

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Capistrano Valley girls’ soccer Coach Jack Peterson had a different take on Mater Dei’s departure from the South Coast League.

“When we lost [last week], I think the girls were disappointed when they realized they won’t be playing them again in league anymore,” Peterson said. “We always want to play the best. But I understand where Brian and the football program are coming from.”

And Peterson didn’t seem too disappointed about the loss to Mater Dei.

“When you’re undefeated, it’s a lot of pressure,” Peterson said. “It’s like you’re waiting for the ax to fall, and last season, it fell on us at the most inopportune time.”

Last season, Capistrano Valley entered the Southern Section Division I final undefeated and lost the championship to rival Mission Viejo, 1-0.

“I don’t like to lose, but I’d rather do it now than later,” Peterson said.

Now, his focus is getting his team healthy for the playoffs.

Starting goalkeeper Haley Kuhn has missed the last two games because of a knee injury. Starter Ashley Casas (ankle) won’t return for two more weeks, but starter Tiffany Landgraff (toe) and reserve Laura Greenberg (toe) could return this week.

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Could the quality of Orange County high school soccer have affected the U.S.’s early exit from last year’s World Cup?

Laguna Beach boys’ soccer Coach Andy Thomas, who grew up and played collegiate soccer in England, offered this frustrated food for thought after last week’s 2-1 loss to Laguna Hills, where officials reversed an offsides call that would have erased the deciding goal.

“The game’s not going to progress over here at the high school level until [the officiating] improves,” Thomas said. “Right now, they’re not competent and they’re not fit enough to be out there.”

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After watching Artesia’s Jason Kapono score 28 points, including making all five of his three-point attempts in an 85-55 victory over Capistrano Valley on Saturday at the Nike Extravaganza, Mulligan had this observation.

“We could have had God and all the apostles out there for us and it still wouldn’t have made one bit of difference.”

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In boys’ basketball Wednesday, Newport Harbor (21-4, 6-2), ranked sixth in the county, will try to keep its league-title hopes alive when it hosts third-ranked Santa Margarita (21-2, 8-0).

Friday, high-scoring guard Neil Hammad leads host Canyon against Villa Park in a game that could decide the Century League title.

In girls’ basketball Tuesday, Westminster hosts Rosary at 7 p.m. in a game that should decide the Golden West League championship. Westminster won the first meeting, 73-68, in a game that featured 64 fouls and 86 free throws.

Friday, another game with league title ramifications is Sonora at Troy at 6 p.m.

Times staff writers Martin Henderson, Dave McKibben and John Weyler contributed to this report.