Griffin Girls open soccer playoff journey against Wilson

Los Alamitos High Girls Soccer starts the CIF playoffs today with a 5pm home match against Long Beach Wilson.

The Griffins enter the season with a 21-0-5 record — their best ever regular season record and the first time a Griffin unit has been unbeaten going into the CIF post-season playoffs. The 1983-84 squad was 20-1-4 going into the playoffs but lost their first round match. The 2004-05 squad was 17-2-5 at the end of the regular season, and then won five straight to win the school’s third CIF title. That team was also coached by current head coach Pat Rossi.

To date the Griffin defense has recorded 19 shutouts, tying the record set by the 1990-91 team, which was anchored by goalkeeper Kathy Skoglund. This year’s defense is led by defender Jayden Newkirk (committed to Colorado) and sophomore keeper Reezyn Turk (a USC commit).

The offense is led by sophomore playmaker Colby Barnett and striker Tabitha LaParl. LaParl, who has already committed to Pepperdine, has scored 26 goals this year, breaking her own single season Griffin scoring record. As a freshman last year, LaParl scored 23 goals last year to surpass Liz Willemse’s 25 year old record of 21 goals. Willemse, who later starred at UCLA, still holds the career mark of 52 but LaParl is only three behind with 49.

Wilson, third place finishers in the Moore League, comes into the match with an 11-4-7 record, but the Griffins are probably not taking them lightly. Last year they entered the playoffs as the No. 2 seed as well, but after drawing a first round bye, fell to Rancho Cucamonga in penalty kicks.

The winner will advance to play the winner of the El Dorado at Hart contest on Friday.

Below is a good article in today’s OC Register on Los Al and JSerra soccer teams. Many of the girls play on the same SoCal Blues club soccer team.