High School Roundup: Edison falls short in final

Edison High girls’ soccer coach Kerry Crooks knew the challenge her team would go up against in Saturday’s CIF Southern Section Division 1 championship game.

Not only did her Chargers have to face a talented Santa Margarita team, but had to do so without their top scorer.

Edison’s bid to win the program’s third Southern Section title, and first since 2002, fell short at Corona High. The 10th-ranked Chargers fell, 3-0, to the fifth-ranked Eagles.

Despite the loss, Edison joined Santa Margarita in the CIF Southern California Regional Girls’ Soccer Championships. The Chargers lost at Torrey Pines (CIF San Diego Section), 4-1, in a Division 1 first-round game Tuesday.

Crooks said the Southern California Regional appearance was a first for the Edison program.

Tuesday’s winner advances to a second-round game Thursday.

“We’re excited for the regional tournament,” Crooks said before the game. “It’s an honor for our program.”

Santa Margarita (15-3-4) took the early lead Saturday and went on to win the program’s first title in 12 years.

The Trinity League champion Eagles received first-half goals from Maggie Ghotbi and Taylor Klawunder (penalty kick), and a late goal in the second half by Kassidy Gorman, to take the crown.

Edison (12-6-4) played without its leading scorer, senior forward MacKenzie Cerda, who was injured late in the Chargers’ 1-0 semifinal victory March 4 over third-ranked Foothill. Crooks said that Cerda suffered what later was diagnosed as a lacerated liver.

The UCLA-bound standout was on hand to support her teammates at Saturday’s title game.

Cerda had scored five of Edison’s six goals in postseason play.

“Obviously, losing MacKenzie was a big blow,” Crooks said. “We went from a super-high, getting to CIF finals, to a super-low after learning of her injury. It was a huge loss but I though our girls handled everything really well. They were bummed that she was out, but they were more concerned with her being OK. That was everyone’s main concern, that she was OK. This is a great group of girls and they have their heads on straight.

“Santa Margarita’s a very talented group. It was hard enough to face them, but without MacKenzie, we knew we had to play a really good game and sneak in a quick score. We weren’t able to score early.”

During Saturday’s Division 1 final, Edison didn’t have one senior player on the field.

“Being in the championship was such a great experience for these youth players,” Crooks said. “They know what it takes to get to a final, and what it takes to win a final. This team has great promise.”

Edison, which captured the Sunset League championship, made its way to the CIF Southern Section Division 1 title game by defeating Rosary (1-1, advanced, 4-3, on penalty kicks), ninth-ranked Capistrano Valley (1-0), No. 2-seed Aliso Niguel (2-0) and No. 3-seed Foothill (1-0).

—

Boys’ Soccer

Edison senior forward Connor Gordon has been named the Most Valuable Player on the 2014 All-Sunset League boys’ soccer team.

Gordon is one of two Chargers to land one of the top awards for the league. Senior defender Ty O’Connor was named Most Outstanding Defensive Player.

Edison, champion of the Sunset League and a CIF Southern Section Division 1 quarterfinalist, placed 10 members of its team on the all-league team.

Fountain Valley, Huntington Beach and Marina each also are represented on the all-league team.

All-Sunset League Boys’ Soccer Team

Most Valuable Player - Connor Gordon, Sr., Edison

Most Outstanding Offensive Player : Alan Alcantra, Newport Harbor

Most Outstanding Defensive Player - Ty O’Connor, Sr., Edison

First Team

Edison: Devin Anderson, Sr.; Hunter Kelley, Sr.; Taylor Kane, Jr.; Alex Nguyen, Jr.; Hunter Kling, Jr.

Fountain Valley: Jacob Shubin, Jr.

Huntington Beach: Spencer Varalyai; Collin Stickley.

Marina: Trevor Anderson, Jr.

Second Team

Edison: Adam Hepburn, Jr.; Brendan Fix, Soph.; Apolo Rosa, Sr.

Fountain Valley: Larry Turner, Jr.; Marcello Ratinoff, Jr.

Huntington Beach: Chase Howe; Bryan Perez.

Marina: Christian Cordell, Sr.

—

Football

Eric Lo, who guided Huntington Beach High to the 2013 CIF Southern Section Southwest Division football championship, has been named head coach for the South for the Brea Lions Club Orange County North/South Prep All-Star Charity Football Game. The 55th annual game is at 7:15 p.m. July 10 at Orange Coast College’s LeBard Stadium.

Ed DeAvila and Gus Martinez, both of Fullerton High, will coach the North team.

The coaches for the North/South All-Star Game were announced Monday at the National Football Foundation Scholar Athlete Awards Banquet at the Anaheim Convention Center.

—

CIF Weekly Rankings

Boys’ Volleyball: Huntington Beach (No. 1, Division 1).