Eagles’ win a back-to-school special for two players
In a year when the U.S. Soccer Federation’s new Developmental Academy got much of the attention of boys’ soccer in Southern California, two players who declined to participate in the program celebrated their decision on Saturday.
Santa Margarita’s Austin McAnena and Grant Windes helped the Eagles defeat Newbury Park, 1-0, to win the Southern Section Division I title at Downey Warren High.
“I hope that it was the time of their life, because they gave up a lot,” Santa Margarita Coach Curt Bauer said.
McAnena and Windes chose high school soccer over the academy program, which offered the opportunity to play in front of college and national team scouts on a weekly basis.
McAnena, a junior, set up the winning goal with a corner kick in the 57th minute.
“It’s a great way to finish a high school season,” said McAnena, who will play in the academy next season.
Taylor Wright plays football for Santa Monica High. Chris De La Rosa and Nico De La Rosa play futbol, but sports are not the only thing they share in common.
During the last month, their friendship grew stronger because of an unfortunate event.
Wright’s mother died three weeks ago and Nico’s father, Pablo, recently assumed guardianship of Wright. Chris and Nico are related but are not brothers.
In a sign of support, Chris and Nico brought a Santa Monica football helmet to their Division IV championship game against Jurupa Valley.
With helmet and Wright on the sideline, the Vikings, ranked No. 2 in the nation by Soccer.Rivals.com, earned the school’s first soccer championship with a 2-0 victory.
Forward Alessandro Canale scored both goals on corner kicks taken by Artur Jozkowicz.
San Clemente goalkeeper Hanna Turpen’s quick reflexes helped the Tritons win a share of their fourth Southern Section girls’ soccer title.
Turpen, a senior, made a diving stop on a low shot by a Long Beach Wilson player that looked destined to end up in the back of net.
Turpen’s save salvaged a 1-1 tie in the Division I final at Warren.
“It would have been a different game, for sure,” Turpen said of her save, one of seven.
Wilson won a share of its first section title.
Lancaster Desert Christian won its third consecutive title and established a state record for goals in a season with a 5-0 victory over Murrieta Calvary in the girls’ Division VI final. The first goal broke the record of 172.
Westlake Village Oaks Christian became the first school since Orange Lutheran (1999) to win boys’ and girls’ soccer titles in the same season.