The Culver City High School boys soccer team was the final Centaur survivor in the CIF playoffs
During the Centaurs’ CIF Division 4 first round 2-0 win over Lompoc here last Saturday, they continued to show why they are 20-6 overall and 9-1 in the Ocean League. Their outstanding record can be summed up in one word: Defense.
The victory was their 12th shutout.
“A nice win,” said Sho Gibbs. “We kept the shutout going. Our defense is what helped us win the Ocean League.”
Culver City has outscored their opponents 56 to 20 and 21-4 in league play.
To beat Saugus, their next opponent, Culver City had to stop senior captain James Johnson. He has attempted 99 shots, 64 of them have been shots on goal and he has scored 24 goals for an amazing 37.5 percent accuracy in score to shot ratio. Culver City is ranked fifth in CIF Division 4 and Saugus is ranked 13th.
If the Centaurs can continue to play at a high level as they did against Lompoc they will advance to the third round of the CIF playoffs first the first time in over 10 years. “It was a great game and we played against a great team,” said Centaur Ruben Soria. “We played like a family, and that was fun to see. We also played with composure, and that really helps.”
Culver City Coach Louie Espeleta was also impressed with Lompoc. “That was a tough game,” he said. “They have several outstanding players. We were fortunate to come out with a win. Culver City boys soccer is no longer one and done in the CIF playoffs.”
Espeleta’s ultimate goal is to win a CIF championship. “I want to get championship rings for this team,” he said. “Our objective is to get these boys rings. We just need to keep the streak going.”
The girls’ basketball team lost their first round playoff game 57-46 to Arroyo Grande.
The girls soccer team dropped their first round game 5-4 against Marymount and the girls’ water polo team lost to Xavier Prep 12-3.
The Centaur baseball team will play their second game of the season when they travel to Taft High in Woodland Hills on Saturday at 11.
The girls softball team will play Palisades next Tuesday on the Culver City campus at 3:15.
Mr. Finley may be contacted at sfinley50@aol.com
Mr. Laase may be contacted at GMLasse@aol.com