Lea’s Three Goals Take Orange Lutheran Into Final

Orange Lutheran girls’ soccer Coach Del Montell was busy Tuesday and unable to attend the Lancers’ semifinal game against Calvary Chapel in the Southern Section Division V playoffs.

Montell was occupied with the boys’ team, which he also coaches. And while advancing the boys to Saturday’s championship, his assistant coaches were leading the girls to their first championship game, with a 3-1 victory over Calvary Chapel at Orange Lutheran.

It is the first time the Lancers have made it past the first round. They will play Olympic League rival and third-seeded Ontario Christian in the final Saturday, with the site and time to be determined.

Junior forward Erin Lea scored all three goals for the Lancers (25-4) and she credits part of the victory to the assistant coaches Don Rogers and Gina Lukes just showing up.

“I’m really glad [Montell] wasn’t here,” joked Lea. “Every time he isn’t here, we win. It may be just lucky, but I kind of wish he wasn’t going to be there Saturday either.”

Lea’s first goal came 20 minutes into the first half, off a through pass from senior Lindsay Wetzler.

The Lancers tied the score for Calvary Chapel, when Eagle Jen Cefalia sailed a direct kick in front of the box and a Lancer defender headed it into her own goal with five minutes left in the half.

Lea, who leads the Lancers with 21 goals and eight assists this season, gave Orange Lutheran the lead for good, when senior Molly Slane flicked a header to Lea, off a throw-in from Meri Barnes. Lea settled the ball and slammed it by goalkeeper Amanda Hallaway in the 53rd minute.

Lea capped her hat trick when she kicked in a rebound off a direct kick in the 64th minute.

“I’ve wanted this for so long,” Lea said. “We were fantastic today. This is one of the best games I’ve ever seen us play. Each game in CIF we keep stepping it up.”