Chatsworth Has Enough Left for Final Challenge

There were smiles, hugs and a shout or two, but it was a quiet celebration by Chatsworth High after it defeated San Pedro, 1-0, in the City Championship girls’ soccer final Saturday at Birmingham High.

That’s because Chatsworth’s victories have become expected. The Chancellors, 204-19-5 in their 11-year soccer history, have won nine section titles and four in a row.

“We’re happy but we never get crazy and jump on each other,” said forward Jackie Fodor of Chatsworth, which got its goal from Maria Acosta. “That’s more for when you do it the first time.”

For the first time in four years, however, Chatsworth (24-2-1) was tested in a final. San Pedro (13-7-1), which lost to the Chancellors, 3-1, in last year’s final, put up a strong fight. The Pirates lost twice to Chatsworth by a total of six goals in Coast/Valley League games this season.

“For the first time in a long time, we were competitive,” said Coach Gerhard Weber of San Pedro. “We only start three seniors and it shows we’re going to be a force in the future.”

Chatsworth, which outscored its three previous playoff opponents, 24-0, held a 14-9 shot advantage but had only an 8-6 edge in the first half.

“We expected it to be like that,” Fodor said. “The other three [playoff] games we knew we were going to blow them out and it wasn’t fun. This, with the crowd and all, was fun. [San Pedro] is really physical and they played a great game.

“They were a lot better this time at anticipating and stepping in front of us to intercept a lot of balls.”

The goal came in the first minute of the second half, when Carrie Downey’s shot from the left wing hit the far post and bounced back into the center of the penalty area, where Acosta scored from five yards.

“I was thinking, ‘Please let me shoot it in, it’s my last year,’ ” said Acosta, a senior midfielder with two goals this season. “Today showed how well we all work together.”

The title capped a magnificent run for seven Chatsworth seniors, led by Fodor. The forward, who has signed with USC, is the likely choice to earn her third consecutive City player of the year award.

“It’s great to go out winning,” Fodor said. “At halftime we talked about how there was no way we were going out with a loss.”

Chatsworth played without starting midfielders Katie Klain and Tricia Arosemena. Klain injured an ankle in a semifinal victory over Birmingham and Arosemena is academically ineligible.

Goalkeeper Esther Regalado of San Pedro stopped four shots and Heather Collins of Chatsworth made seven saves.