COLD NIGHT—Moorpark’s Lauren Talbot walks off the pitch while La Mirada players celebrate their win.
The Musketeers battled their way back to the CIF-Southern Section Division 4 title game to set up a revenge match against defending champion La Mirada on March 4.
Moorpark, which allowed three goals in the opening 17 minutes against the Matadores in last year’s title game, knew it needed to avoid giving up the early goals.
Things didn’t go as planned.
A La Mirada goal in the third minute brought back an eerily familiar feeling for the Musketeers.
STILL HURTS—Moorpark High girls’ soccer goalie Courtney Worstell reacts after losing 4-1 to La Mirada on March 4 at Warren High.
“And it happened.”
Moorpark allowed another goal in the 36th minute and couldn’t bounce back in a deflating 4-1 loss in the championship match.
“I thought we were wellprepared,” junior Jordyn Geller said. “Once they scored that first one, it let down our mojo.”
CLASH—La Mirada’s Gabriella Hurtado, left, and Moorpark’s Sadie Lutz chase the ball during last week’s CIF-Southern Section Division 4 championship match. The Musketeers lost 4-1.
Alexander shifted senior Lauren Talbot from defense to forward, where her ball-handling skills and relentless drive helped the Moorpark attack put pressure on the La Mirada back line.
“She played her heart out tonight,” the coach said of Talbot. “She played like a senior and played like a leader. She had the right mentality from start to finish. We couldn’t have asked for more out of a captain.”
Talbot found an opening in the 50th minute. She had a nifty run through a crowd of La Mirada defenders before the ball was deflected to a perfectly positioned Geller, who slotted the ball past the goalie for Moorpark’s only goal.
Alexander said the difference in the title game was each team’s mentality.
“They wanted it that much more,” he said of La Mirada. “They wanted to repeat, and you can see it by the score. Four-one says it all.”
Sammie Walker, a senior who earned a controversial red card in the semifinals, wasn’t allowed to play or even be on site to cheer on her team in the finals.
The senior captain helped the Musketeers put the heartbreak aside to beat Alta Loma 2-1 in the first round of the CIF State Southern California regional girls’ soccer tournament on Tues., March 8.
Moorpark faced Strathmore on Thursday in the regional semifinals. Talbot said she’s hoping for another shot at La Mirada, which took on Oxnard in the other semifinal on Thursday. Scores were unavailable at press time.
“We have a chance at playing them again,” Talbot said. “We should look forward to that. We know even more now (about La Mirada) in case we do need to play them again.
“I hope we do. I really do.”
Musketeers take silver
Moorpark High’s girls’
soccer team reached the CIF
State Southern California
regional girls’ soccer
semifinals after beating Alta
Loma 2-1 on March 8. The
win was the school’sfirst
regional victory in program
history. Here are the
Musketeer seniors:
Sammi Walker
Lauren Talbot
Taylor Chandler
Beth Wade
Magesta Wallot
Danielle Boggess
Nicole Szczepanek
Valerie Romero
Michaela Payen
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