TORRANCE — The South Torrance girls soccer team had a one-goal lead with six minutes left in Wednesday’s first round of the of CIF Southern Section Division 1 playoffs.
However, a pair of goals from Addison Hansen and Jada Faison flipped the game on its head and earned visiting Rosary Academy a 2-1 win.
“Getting thrusted into Division 1 playoffs — that’s a big step for this program,” South Torrance coach Sean Lockhart said. “We felt confident coming in, but we also knew there was a small margin for error.”
South Torrance senior Isabella Kaemmerer scored the game’s first goal 15 minutes into the second half while senior Lilly Cook helped the Spartans with three saves. Kaemmerer’s attempt was dispatched past Rosary Academy junior Julia Morales after a Spartans’ pass into the box was deflected kindly into the goal-scorer’s path in front of goal.
The chance was South Torrance’s only clear opportunity despite the hosts’ domination of possession throughout.
Spartans junior Maci Laster had her team’s best chance in the first half when her shot from close range blazed over the bar.
“I’m so proud of the girls that they kept going,” Rosary coach Sean Melendez said. “Because late in the game when you give up one you really have to look to your character.
“And I know these girls love each other and they’ll do anything for each other and that was the difference tonight.”
With six minutes and added stoppage time remaining, up stepped Hansen for the Royals by unleashing a first-time belter from the edge of the center circle, just inside the opposition’s half, that arrowed straight into the top corner and beyond Cook.
“I deep down knew I wanted it for the team,” Hansen said. “Any shot counts so it’s worth taking the risk because we want to keep going and that’s what it takes.”
Upon the restart, momentum shifted heavily in favor of the Royals who took the lead on Faison’s solo effort from atop the box.
“We have a special forward who can break through at any time,” Melendez said. “If you have a very organized team and have a player like that I think you can always be dangerous — you’re never dead and it showed tonight.”
The Royals will take on Mater Dei in Friday’s second round. While the Spartans finish their season with a 14-3-1 record and an undefeated Pioneer League title.
“Our juniors that we have now who will be seniors next year,” Lockhart said about how he feel about the future of the program. “They’re the first class that I had, so they’ve had that opportunity to learn off the seniors from the last three years and apply what they learned.”
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