Dos Pueblos Girls Soccer Falls 1-0 to La Mirada in Playoffs

UPDATE: Dos Pueblos girls soccer faced a heartbreaking 1-0 loss to La Mirada High in the opening round of the CIF-SS Div. 3 playoffs on Thursday night at Scott O’Leary Stadium in Goleta. The defeat ends the season for the Chargers, who finished with an impressive overall record of 13-5-5, a significant improvement over last year’s seven-win campaign.

The game was a tense defensive battle, with neither team able to score in the first half. Dos Pueblos controlled the ball for much of the opening period, earning three corner kicks but failing to convert opportunities into shots on goal. Head coach George Hedricks expressed pride in his team’s effort, stating, “I think we came out early and put some pressure on them right off the bat.”

Despite the pressure, La Mirada’s defense remained strong. The Chargers’ goalkeeper, Darlene Aguilar, had a standout performance, making four crucial saves in the first half, keeping her team in contention. “I can’t say enough good things about Darlene and what she did all year,” Hedricks remarked.

As the second half commenced, Dos Pueblos continued to press for a breakthrough, with players Paige Ferro and Hazel Burgess both attempting shots that were stopped by La Mirada’s goalkeeper. However, the turning point came in the 53rd minute when a handball in the Chargers’ penalty box led to a penalty kick. La Mirada’s Zoey Santiago took advantage, scoring the only goal of the match and giving her team a 1-0 lead.

Hedricks reflected on the critical moment, saying, “It was an unlucky handball… it’s really unfortunate that this game came down to that.”

Down the stretch, the Dos Pueblos defense held firm, providing their offense with chances to equalize, but they could not find the net. “Finishing has probably been something we’ve worked the hardest to fix all year long,” Hedricks noted, acknowledging the challenges his team faced in finishing scoring opportunities.

Looking ahead, La Mirada will advance to face Valencia in a second-round matchup this Saturday. Meanwhile, Dos Pueblos concludes their season with hopeful prospects for next year, buoyed by a strong senior class and promising underclassmen. “Hopefully, these girls who are coming back next year got a ton of experience,” Hedricks added.

This playoff loss serves as a reminder of the competitive spirit and resilience demonstrated by the Dos Pueblos soccer program under new leadership. As the Chargers regroup, fans and supporters remain optimistic about the future.