Perfect Finish for Buena Would Mean Title in Division II

Buena High, the region’s only undefeated team, tries to win the school’s first Southern Section title in 12 years when it plays Mira Costa for the Division II girls’ soccer championship today at 6 p.m. at La Mirada High.

Chatsworth, Chaminade, Poly and Reseda are also vying for girls’ soccer championships today.

Buena, playing in its third championship game, has experience on its side. Coach Trish Butterbaugh scored the game-winning goal for Buena in the 1988 title game, when the Bulldogs defeated Yorba Linda, 1-0. Assistant coach Allyson Munday played for Buena’s 1994-95 team that lost to Long Beach Poly, 1-0, in a Southern Section final.

“A lot of girls that played in 1994-95 have been calling me and telling me to tell the girls to win one for us,” Butterbaugh said.

Buena, which beat Woodbridge on penalty kicks in the semifinals, has outscored opponents, 122-18, tying Chatsworth for the most goals scored in the region.

Forward Natalie Sanderson leads the Bulldogs with 34 goals and 19 assists. Forward Ashleigh Garmon (23 goals, 12 assists), midfielder Lisa Engel (13 goals, 16 assists) and midfielder J.J. Toohey (12 goals, 14 assists) also contribute offense and sweeper Lerin Mundell and freshman Megan Boys lead a strong defense.

“This is a goal they’ve shot for all season,” said Butterbaugh, whose team has outscored opponents 21-2 in the postseason. “They want to finish their record at 32-0. Thirty-one-and-one or 31-0-1 doesn’t sound that good.”

Chatsworth shoots for its fifth consecutive City Section Championship and 10th in the last 12 years when it plays San Pedro at 4 p.m. at East Los Angeles College.

The Chancellors (16-3-1) defeated the Pirates, 1-0, in the final last season and faces San Pedro for the fourth time in five years. San Pedro has scored only one goal against Chatsworth since 1996.

Chatsworth is led by midfielder Jenna Fodor, who has 22 goals and 32 assists. The Chancellors have not allowed a goal in the playoffs and yielded three in league play.

Chaminade (22-4-4) can win its fourth straight Southern Section championship by beating Torrance Bishop Montgomery in Division IV at noon today at La Mirada High.

Bishop Montgomery, which shocked Harvard Westlake, 2-1, in Tuesday’s semifinal, tied the Eagles in last year’s final.

The Eagles’ top players are forward Tara Donoghue, defender Julie Bosserman and goalkeeper Sara Leibowitz.

Poly and Reseda meet for the City Section Invitational championship at 2 p.m. at East Los Angeles College.

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TODAY’S MATCHUPS

GIRLS’ SOCCER

Southern Section

Division II Final

Buena vs. Mira Costa

at La Mirada HS, 6 p.m.

Division IV Final

Chaminade vs. Bishop Montgomery

at La Mirada HS, noon

City Championship

Chatsworth vs. San Pedro

at East L.A., 4 p.m.

City Invitational

Poly vs. Reseda

at East L.A., 2 p.m.