Lancers upset nation's top-ranked team

The inaugural CIF Southern California Regional Soccer Championships kicked off Tuesday afternoon with a stunning upset by the Thousand Oaks High girls' squad.

Playing at Torrey Pines High in San Diego in the first round of eight-team Division I bracket, Lancer sophomore Michelle Cruz converted a penalty kick with three minutes remaining in the match to lift TOHS to a 1-0 victory.

Cruz's kick came after a Torrey Pines defender stopped a T.O. shot with her hands.

Torrey Pines, the nation's topranked team according to Rivals.com, hadn't lost since February 2006, a streak of 53 games.

"We're still on the thrill ride of a lifetime," TOHS head coach Geoff Raives said. "This was the first time all season I told my team they had nothing to lose."

The Lancers play at San Clemente High today at 5 p.m.

In Division III, the top-seeded Oaks Christian girls' team crushed Sherman Oaks Center 11-0 at home. The Lions host Francis Parker today at 5 p.m.

The OCHS boys were upended 4-3 in overtime by Avenal in Division III action.