OCHS girls' soccer squad upset by South Torrance

JANN HENDRY/Acorn Newspapers OVER AND OUT—Lion Kelly Johnson, right, steals the ball from Marymount's Katherine Hathaway during a quarterfinal playoff match. OCHS lost in the semifinals, 1-0, at South Torrance. A highly successful season for the Oaks Christian girls' soccer team ended Tuesday with a 1-0 loss to South Torrance in the CIFSouthern Section Division V semifinals.

It's only the second time in the last seven years that OCHS (222) has failed to make the section title game. Oaks Christian, a fivetime CIF-SS champion, also lost in the 2005 semifinals.

"Soccer can be a funny sport, and I kind of have the same hollow feeling I had four years ago," Oaks Christian head coach Jan Hethcock said during a phone interview following the game.

"We had our chances with two shots off the post, one shot skimming over the crossbar and one directly hitting the crossbar. Sooner or later, this sort of stuff happens to you. I was just hoping it wouldn't be sooner rather than later. I would have really liked to have made it to the finals with this group," the coach said.

The game-winning goal was scored by South Torrance senior Lauren Hein, who converted with just over a minute remaining in regulation.

"It all happened so fast because I was sitting on the sideline thinking, 'We'll be okay if we just get to overtime'," Hethcock said.

Despite the loss, the best may still be yet to come for the Lions.

Oaks Christian carried nine freshmen on its roster and will graduate only five seniors—Noe Salter, Megan Schoppe, Megan Connor, Katie Elliot and Ashley Thesman. Hethcock said it will be difficult not having the seniors around next season.

"Well, it's always hard to say goodbye to any player that graduates," Hethcock said. "Noe is going to be missed because not only was she a great player, but she had a great sense of humor that kept the rest of the kids upbeat.

"Megan is a really tough competitor that played every position except goalkeeper. She was a good captain for this squad. I'll always remember that she always had a smile on her face."