The boys on the Point Loma High School soccer team lost the chance to win back-to-back CIF championships after a questionable goal by an opponent forced the game into overtime and they lost in a penalty shootout.
The two teams played Steele Canyon High School on the neutral pitch of Madison High School in a very physical game with both sides playing with a lot of emotion. Players ran with speed and intensity, bodies collided, and athletic trainers from both teams were called to the field multiple times to treat players who had particularly violent contact. Still, there were no points scored in the first 40 minutes.
In the 48th minute of the game, during a scramble in front of the Cougars' goal after a corner kick, pointer Ethan Denny picked up the ball with his foot and quickly smashed it into the net, sparking celebration on the field and among the adoring fans. Ta. Pointers stand.
This slim 1-0 lead lasted until the 63rd minute, when a controversial Cougar goal tied the game.
Pointer goaltender Owen Purvis was slammed to the turf by a Cougar forward, and both players were lying face down on the goal line in front of the Pointer net. There was no whistle from the referee, and the Cougars were able to kick a loose ball past a pair into the net. The referee and his assistant talked for several minutes before indicating that the goal had been awarded.
From there, both teams went into 17 minutes of regulation time and 15 minutes of sudden death overtime. During this time, the scores of each team changed.
In the second half of regulation, Pointer's header on consecutive corner kicks went over the goal crossbar, and another shot hit the right post. The Cougar's shot hit the post, then the ball went off Purvis but went wide. Any of these could have ended the match within the stipulated time.
According to CIF regulations, the championship was to be decided in a penalty shootout.
Denny had the team's first shot, taking a goal off Cougar goaltender Eldar Ybarra as the teams took turns in a five-round session. Teammate Cooper Ronow also put the ball past Ybarra, but the Pointers' final shot was denied, giving the Cougars a 3-2 victory.
As the team lined up for the post-game handshake and awards ceremony, many Pointer players held back tears. Head coach Elliott Savitz accepted the division. This is the runner-up. PLHS Principal David Jaffe and Athletic Director Manny Diaz Jr. joined the coaches to present patches to the players.
“We've been through everything this year, including injuries, but to make it this far (to the finals) is a really big accomplishment and something we should be proud of,” Denny said as the crowd dispersed. “When it comes to penalty kicks, there's nothing you can do.”
Denny will continue to play football in the NCAA Division at Tennessee. III He is a member of Maryville University, Southern University Conference.
“These boys have played so hard and grown so much in six weeks,” Savitz said. “I couldn't be more pleased with the great players they've become. They're hungry, determined, learning and getting better and better. We have three or four key players and we've got a lot of players. That's why I was so proud of them. We just fell a little short today.”
free kick
In terms of CIF seeding, the Pointers placed seventh in the division and Steele Canyon placed ninth. I. The top six teams were eliminated.
Purvis received the CIF Sportsmanship Award, which is given to one player on each team.
