Tritons Celebrate Deadlock

The result was the same for each team, but the ensuing emotions were entirely different as Mission Viejo and San Clemente played to a 1-1 tie in the Southern Section Division I girls’ soccer championship game Saturday at Cal State Fullerton.

Unseeded San Clemente (15-5-5), the second-place team from the South Coast League, celebrated the deadlock, believing the tie for its second consecutive title was proof of the progress made by a team that lost seven starters from last year’s squad.

“We just wanted to play it all out and give it our all,” senior midfielder Brittany Emerson said. “It comes out as a tie, but it’s better than losing.”

Southern Section rules call for teams to share the title rather than go to overtime or penalty kicks in championship games.

Emerson gave the Tritons the tie when she lofted a 30-yard shot from the middle over the outstretched arms of Mission Viejo senior goalkeeper Katie Wright (four saves) after a throw-in by Makenzie Beahm in the 51st minute.

A left-footed blast from 25 yards by Mission Viejo junior midfielder Nicole Scheid gave the Diablos (16-3-8) a 1-0 edge in the 29th minute.

The Diablos, obviously disappointed Saturday, missed the playoffs last season but shared the Division II title with Ventura Buena in 2001.

Westlake Village Westlake 2, Valencia 0 -- Lauren Shanklin and Megan Page scored for Westlake (21-0-1), which won its first section title in the Division II game at Fullerton.

Shanklin scored her fifth goal of the season with an assist from Carrie Murphy in the 25th minute. Page scored on a 10-yard shot in the 77th minute following a pass from Ashley Jones.

Senior goalkeeper Christina DeVries (four saves) made the goals stand up for the Warriors’ 14th shutout and 18th consecutive victory. Valencia finishes 20-4-1.

Costa Mesa 0, Walnut 0 -- Both teams made strong pushes for goals down the stretch but settled for a scoreless draw in their first appearances in the Division III championship game at Fullerton.

Walnut (20-4-6) had four shots on goal in the last six minutes, the best one coming from across the goalmouth from eight yards out by sophomore forward Christina Carriaga.

Costa Mesa (22-1-3) had three shots on goal in the closing minutes, two by senior midfielder Sharon Day.

-- Lauren Peterson

Pasadena Poly 2, South Pasadena 2 -- Pasadena Poly senior forward Katelyn Kuwata and South Pasadena freshman forward Eva Dixon each scored in both halves of the Division IV final at La Mirada High.

The tie gave Pasadena Poly (20-1-1) a Southern Section championship for the third consecutive year and its seventh since 1991. South Pasadena finishes 24-5-1.

Westlake Village Oaks Christian 1, Oak Park 1 -- Alisha Hoven’s 70th-minute goal lifted Oaks Christian (18-5-4) to the tie and co-championship in an emotional and physical Division V final at La Mirada. Courtney Crane scored in the 47th minute for Oak Park (20-1-3).

Lancaster Desert Christian 2, Los Angeles Milken 1 -- Freshman Megan Fike scored in the 69th minute as the Knights won the inaugural Division VI final at La Mirada. Desert Christian (20-3-1) took a 1-0 lead in the third minute on freshman Mandi Morrow’s goal. Milken (13-7-2) tied the score four minutes later on junior midfielder Romy Barber’s goal.

-- Steven Herbert