Local girls soccer teams dominate South Holiday Tournament
Redondo’s Tonya Gonzalez was named to the South Holiday All-Tournament Team. Photo
South Bay girls showed their high school teams are ones to be reckoned with, dominating the South Holiday Tournament held the last two weekends.
Peninsula defeated host South Torrance 4-3 on penalty kicks after the teams battled to a 1-1 tie in the championship game of the South Holiday Tournament.
Redondo Union (7-2) tied Torrance 2-2 but lost to the Tartars 4-3 on penalty kicks in the third-place game. Torrance (9-1) is ranked No. 3 in the CIF Southern Section Division 4 poll while South (5-0-4) moved into the No. 1 spot in the same division.
Redondo forward Tonya Gonzalez recorded two goals and Shannon Simon added one in the Sea Hawk’s 3-0 win over Valley Christian in the quarterfinals Saturday. Goalkeepers Marissa Marshall and Marissa Cascio recorded four and two saves, respectively, in the victory.
In the semifinals later in the day, Redondo surrendered its first goal of the season in a 1-0 loss to Bay League rival Peninsula. Marshall made four saves to keep the Sea Hawks in the game.
Redondo reached the championship bracket after winning the Pool E competition by posting two shutouts. The Sea Hawks defeated Beverly Hills 1-0 when Tana Granados scored in the 38th minute.
In the final Pool E game, Redondo knocked off Lancaster 2-0 behind goals by Katrina Cohen and Randie Vlahakis. Shannon Simon assisted on both goals. Marshall recorded four saves on the day and Cascio made three saves against Lancaster in a reserve role.
Gonzalez and Simon were named to the All-Tournament Team.
Before the team takes a break for the holidays, Redondo hosts South at 3 p.m. Wednesday in the South Bay Tournament. The Sea Hawks return to action in 2013 hosting Peninsula on Tuesday, Jan. 8 in their Bay League opener.
Mira Costa (8-1-2) is ranked No. 4 in Division 2 and defeated Valley Christian 3-0 to finish the tournament in fifth place. Kimby Keever, Jojo Mahoney and Rachel Oster each scored once and goalkeeper Nonie Frischette recorded two saves for the win.
The Mustangs suffered their first loss of the season in the quarterfinals, falling to Torrance 1-0. Kaitlyn Johnson scored the lone goal for the Tartars.
Mira Costa bounced back in the afternoon to tie West 1-1 and emerge victorious on penalty kicks 4-3.
South reached the finals by beating Torrance 2-1, giving the Tartar’s their first loss of the season.
Mira Costa began the tournament winning Pool B with a 7-1 victory over North Torrance. Megan Mahoney and Rachel Oster each scored two goals and McKenna Doyle, Savannah Sartini and Hanna Watkins scored once.
The Mustangs then beat Lakewood 1-0 with Mandy McKeegan scoring the only goal for Mira Costa.
Kirby Benson represented Mira Costa on the All-Tournament Team.
In a non-league contest on Thursday, Mira Costa and South battled to a scoreless tie. Mustang goalkeeper Nonie Frischette recorded three saves while South goalkeeper Paige Brandt needed seven saves to preserve the tie.
Mira Costa shutout visiting Marina 2-0 in a non-league game Tuesday behind goals by Doyle and Taylor Foland. Frishette recorded four saves for the win.
The Mustangs begin their quest for a Bay League crown on Tuesday, Jan. 8 when West invades Waller Stadium for a 3 p.m. contest.