Diamond Ranches player Jadyn Williams celebrates a goal with his team during the CIF-SS Division 6 Championship Game on Saturday, February 24, 2024 in Long Beach, Calif. (Photo by Tracy Roman, Contributing Photographer) )
Thursday's CIF State Southern California Regional Semifinals
boys soccer
Division V
No. 8 Castle Park of Chula Vista (15-4-5) vs. No. 5 Covina (18-4-1) Covina District Field, 5 p.m.
The Colts won the CIF-SS Division 7 championship in dramatic fashion last week with a 2-1 victory over St. Pius X/St. Louis, scoring the winning goal in sudden-death overtime. Mathias continued its winning ways with a 3-1 win over Wilson on Tuesday in the first round of the regional playoffs. Kevin Velasquez, Matthew Manrique and Cristian Elacio all scored for the Colts. The Colts will be at home in the semifinals rather than a long trip thanks to Castle Park's 2-1 win over top-seeded Contreras.
No. 6 St. Pius X/St. Pius X Matthias (20-4) Maranatha (18-6-3), 5 p.m.
Maranatha got the winning goal from freshman Caleb Freshman and won the CIF-SS Division 6 championship with a 2-1 victory over Wilson in overtime. The Minutemen continued their dramatic showing in the first round of the regional playoffs on Tuesday, with George Peterson scoring two goals, including the sudden-death game-winning goal in overtime in a 2-1 overtime win over Woodlake. The Minutemen return home again to face St. Pius X/St. Peter. Mathias defeated New West Charter 1-0 to advance.
girls soccer
Division IV
No. 3 Monrovia (17-2-1) vs. No. 2 Louisville (23-3) @Crespi HS, 7:15 p.m.
The Wildcats bounced back from a blowout 2-0 loss to Louisville in the CIF-SS Division 4 championship game with a dominant 4-0 victory over Campbell Hall in the first round of the regional playoffs. Eva Hackworth had a hat trick and Maddie Marjan had another goal for the Wildcats. The Wildcats will have a rematch with Louisville in the semifinals.
Division V
No. 5 Maranatha (14-11), No. 1 Diamond Ranch (21-4), 5 p.m.
The top-seeded Panthers defeated Magnolia Science Academy 8-0 in the first round, with sophomore Jaydyn Williams scoring two goals. Williams had a trick up her sleeve in her 3-0 win over Bell Gardens for the CIF-SS Division 6 title. Maranatha bounced back from a 1-0 loss to Artesia in the CIF-SS Division 7 Championship with a 2-1 win over Southeast. Maren Halvorsen scored both goals for the Minutemen. This matchup guarantees that at least one local team will play in Saturday's championship game.