El Dorado Is Semi-Surprising

El Dorado continued its unexpected run through the playoffs Thursday, ending Sunny Hills’ undefeated season with a 2-1 victory over the Lancers in the Southern Section Division II girls’ soccer quarterfinals at Sunny Hills.

The victory put the Golden Hawks in the semifinals for the first time in school history.

It was the latest in a succession of stunning results for the Golden Hawks and their first-year coach, Juan Mares. After defeating Cerritos in a wild-card game, they upset third-seeded Woodbridge in overtime in the first round, then upset Walnut in overtime in a second-round game.

Next up for El Dorado is a Tuesday semifinal against Ventura Buena, a 2-0 winner over Manhattan Beach Mira Costa.

“If you had told me at the beginning of the season that we’d be in the semifinals, well . . .” Mares said. “Now, all these wins have been producing a deep confidence in the girls. We are just enjoying the moment.”

For El Dorado forward Robin Bennett, who played with padding and mounds of tape around her waist to protect an injured kidney, the moment was special. It was only her eighth game back since sustaining the injury in December’s Excalibur tournament, and it was her goal with under five minutes remaining that gave the Golden Hawks (17-8-3) the victory.

Bennett, who had been blowing by defenders the entire game, took the ball on the sideline, moved inside, sped around two defenders and slammed a shot into the far corner of the goal past a diving Janina Luciano.