The school’s varsity girls soccer team (17-5) secured the Division II CIF State Championship on March 8, against Orange Lutheran High School (13-6-1), marking their first CIF State Championship win in girls program history. The Falcons’ hard-fought victory was anchored by a dominant performance on all corners of the field.
Ashley O’Regan (12), a left wingback, scored off of a volley in the first half that proved to be the game winner.
“It was very early in the game and as the ball was crossed, someone tried to clear it, but I shot the rebound, and it bounced over the goalie,” O’Regan said.
This goal sparked the team’s confidence, according to O’Regan.
“From that moment on, I knew we were in it,” O’Regan said. “Besides being the eighth seed, we proceeded to show our expertise and follow the game plan provided, which helped us to win all three of our state games.”
The Falcons’ defense played an equally important role in victory. Defender Kate Conway (11) made a key save on the line in the second half to keep the team’s advantage.
“The forward on the other team headed the ball toward the goal, and I ran back, jumped up and headed it away,” Conway said. “My momentum took me into the goal, and I fell into the net. It was a pretty cool moment, but there was still a lot of time, so I had to stay focused.”
With a number of crucial saves, goalie Lauren Johnson (10) was instrumental in holding the Lancers at bay.
“My team played really well,” Johnson said. “I knew we all wanted to win, and we just had such high energy. We were able to score early in the first half, which gave us the lead, allowing us to stay calm and confident throughout the rest of the game.”
The second half was particularly intense as the Lancers ramped up their offensive efforts, according to Conway and Johnson.
“The game got pretty stressful as the other team was taking a ton of shots which I had to save,” Johnson said. “There was one save off a corner that I came out on to punch away, and then a girl from outside the box shot it again, forcing me to save it again. But I knew they weren’t going to score because I wasn’t going to let them.”
After going undefeated in the league season, the Falcons completed an incredible season with a CIF State Championship victory — the first time in 16 years that the team finished the season on a win. O’Regan, Conway and Johnson attributed the win to three main factors: communication, teamwork and perseverance.
“Our offense created countless chances for us while our defense stood strong especially in the second half,” Conway said. “We had really good communication and I was super proud of the work ethic that everyone showed.”
In his 16th year coaching the team, head coach Martyn Hansford commended the players’ performance, resilience and drive.
“The team was fully invested,” Hansford said. “‘Together Stronger’ is our motto, and the girls demonstrated this every time we were together.”
Winning a state championship meant more to the team than simply taking home the trophy, according to Hansford.
“We try to create something special for our players — a closeness and togetherness that is maybe a little unique for a lot of their experiences of playing soccer,” Hansford said. “After previous CIF victories, we have competed in state and not won, which is then our last experience of the season. This year, we rolled up to the school on our last bus ride of the season as state champions. That was a great feeling.”
