Local wins state cup

La Cañada resident Courtney Gazmarian reached the pinnacle for girls youth club soccer this past Saturday in Lancaster. Courtney, who plays midfielder and forward, along with her Arsenal FC teammates from Alta Loma, won the Cal South State Cup final by beating the San Diego Surf in the under-11 division.

It was an amazing and intense game that went into two overtimes and eventually ended in penalty kicks, 4-2. The Cal South Open State Cup Tournament began Jan. 31 and concluded this last weekend. Courtney’s team won all nine games in the tournament by a combined score of 36-1. They have had dream season, winning 11 of 13 tournaments with a total record of 64-4-7. Arsenal will be ranked no. 1 in the nation at this age group.

Courtney Gazmarian is a fifth grader who attends Palm Crest Elementary and is also a St. Bede’s parishioner. She has played soccer since she was five years old and dreams to one day play at the collegiate level.

—by Gayla Gazmarian