The Culver City High School soccer teams – boys and girls – hope to continue their elite play in the Ocean League this week.
The boys and the girls meet Hawthorne on Friday – the boys at 6 on campus and the girls at Hawthorne at 4 o’clock.
The boys and girls began the week in first place, but the girls dropped out when they lost 4-0 in Santa Monica on Monday.
On a beautiful afternoon in Santa Monica, the Centaurs were taken out of their game by an attacking opponent that pressured the Culver City defense the whole game.
“We did not come out ready mentally,” said first-year Coach Elizabeth Cveyich. “We were playing like a one-man team. We were not connecting well.
“After Santa Monica made their first goal, we kind of fell flat.”
The girls team came in with five straight victories. “But you can’t win them all,” Cveyich said.
She called the game a good lesson. “We know what to work on,” and that is crucial because another Ocean League game with Santa Monica is on the schedule.
“If we could have scored early, that would have given us energy to try and win the game,” the coach said. “Despite the loss, I am very proud of this team.”
The Lady Centaurs, 5-1 in league, are 10-6 for the season. Ranked 9th in CIF Division 4, they are one game behind 6-0 Santa Monica, ranked 7th in Division 7.
After Friday’s Hawthorne game, the girls face Santa Monica at home on Tuesday at 4:45, Senior Night. Their final league game will be next Thursday at Beverly Hills at 3.
What About the Boys?
The unbeaten boys are 8th-ranked in Division 4, with a 5-0 league record, 14-5 overall.
They are about to be busy. After Friday’s date with Hawthorne, they host second-place Santa Monica on Monday at 6. The next day they are at Santa Monica at 5.
Culver City’s last league game is next Thursday at Beverly Hills.
Basketball
The girls basketball team (4-2 in league, 14-7 for the season), will play host Hawthorne on Friday at 6. Tuesday they are at Santa Monica at 6. They will conclude the league schedule with a home date against Beverly Hills next Thursday at 6.
The boys basketball team (3-3, 8-15) is home on Friday against Hawthorne at 7:30. They play at Santa Monica on Tuesday at 7:30.
Their regular season finale will be at home against Beverly Hills next Thursday at 7:30.
Mr. Finley may be contacted at sfinley50@aol.com
Mr. Laase may be contacted at gmlaase@aol.com