Girls’ soccer has lost its last two opening rounds in CIF, but will get shot at changing that today.

By Brandon HENSLEY

The Crescenta Valley girls’ soccer team will host a playoff game today at 3 p.m. at CV High School, and it will be what Coach Jorden Schulz hopes is the first step in the team’s push through the Southern Section Division III brackets.

The Falcons have lost their last two opening round playoff games. This time around, they will be tested by the San Luis Obispo Tigers, who went 15-10-1 overall and placed third in the PAC7 League.

“I think it’s one of those sports mental blocks,” Schulz said. “I think the first round is the hardest round to get out of.”

Schulz said she didn’t know much about the Tigers as of Tuesday.

“I heard they have a quick forward and have a good defender,” she said. “It’s kind of weird, but [finishing] first, second or third for any league, you’re going to be really good.”

CV finished second in the Pacific League to Arcadia High School, and that didn’t sit well with Schulz, who is in her third year as head coach and fifth overall. The Falcons had previously won the past four league titles.

Schulz was disappointed “because we didn’t get the goal we wanted. A first-place seed in league is a better one to get. Hopefully it’s a kick in the pants for us to step up ….I think we always have a goal to win league. Generally it’s between us and Arcadia.”

The Falcons went 14-4-2 overall, and 11-2-1 in league. They were second in league in scoring with 67 goals (Burroughs had 72) and gave up the third least amount of goals (10).

Against the Tigers, they will be led by senior captains Sierra Rhoads, Whitley Boller and Katie Callister. All three players lead the team in points, and Rhoads leads in goals, 18, and points, with 43.

“They rarely, if ever, come off the field, so everyone counts on them for leadership,” Schulz said of her captains.

The Falcons count on two goalkeepers, Emily Johnston and Samantha Lizer, who split time each game. According to socalsoccer.org, Johnston has logged 795 minutes, allowing six goals in 42 chances, and Lizer has logged 765 minutes and has given up 10 goals in 60 chances.

Schulz said unlike the CV boys team last year, which featured star Pavle Antanackovic, a proverbial home run hitter, the girls play small ball, and have to be efficient and precise if they want to succeed.

“If we play correctly, it’s a really nice game,” Schulz said. “It’s a very pretty game. We bring it down, we pass it wide. We work the ball up the field. We don’t just kick it and run.”

If the Falcons advance, they would play Tuesday against the winner of Poly High School and Valencia (Placentia).

  Brandon Hensley