CIF WILD CARD GAMES
Girls’ Soccer, Wednesday Feb. 17th
Millikan vs. Claremont, Millikan High @ 5pm
The Rams will be under the lights for their first home CIF game in a decade. In his third season at Millikan, head coach Dave Christensen is glad his team is driven to redeem themselves after missing the playoffs last season.
“I keep telling the girls to just do the right thing, and they’ve responded. It’s starting to come together… We’re very excited, [the team] has worked hard for this… in the summer like running cross country, and in the tough preseason.”
Much like last season, the Rams are limping to the finish with multiple injuries including offensive threat Kelly Johnson. She went down a few weeks back with a knee injury. They found out it wasn’t an ACL, but the sophomore is done for the season.
As for Claremont, Millikan doesn’t know much. From the Baseline League, the at-large bid has been handled by the big dogs in the Inland Empire like Los Osos and Upland, much like the Rams have struggled against Wilson and Poly.
Cabrillo @ Rosary High School, 3pm
Winter has been kind to the Jaguars. Along with both basketball teams and their male counterparts, the girls’ soccer team is in the CIF Playoffs. For head coach Jorge Polanco’s budding program, it’s a third consecutive trip to the post season, and this year Cabrillo did it despite a rocky road.
“We lost four starters pretty early to injury and grades and we had to battle… we were walking in with 15 players at the most, and it was primarily my back line,” said Polanco. “Players like Leslie Navarro have had to fill in and be my depth everywhere.”
Last season Navarro was one of the league’s best goalies last season, and this season she’s been the consummate team player. Last week she netted a hat trick in a victory.
This is the first playoff appearance in the playoffs for Rosary, so they will obviously be ready to play. Polanco needs early goes at goal from Melina Ramos and Mabel Chacon. Perhaps early pressure and an early score could neutralize the home advantage.