GRIFFIN SPORTS: Girls soccer advances to Excalibur final against Edison; La Parl moves into fourth on all-time scoring list

With Tabbi LaParl adding three more goals to the four she scored Thursday, the day as the Los Alamitos Girls soccer team won two games to advance to Saturday’s championship game of the Excalibur up tournament. They will play Sunset league rival Edison at 11:30 at the Silverlakes Complex in Norco.

LaParl scored the Griffins first two goals in a 3-0 quarterfinal win over Mater Dei on Friday afternoon. Khalia Gathright notched the third insurance goal late in the match.

That win set up an evening semi-final match-up against another Sunset League rival, Huntington Beach. The match remained scoreless until LaParl scored in the 34th minute to put Los Al up 1-0, a lead which held at halftime.

Midway through the second half at the 64th minute, Sophomore Colby Barnett found a streaking Teryn Newkirk on a breakway. The freshman finished it off to give the Griffins a 2-0 lead which held for the victory and set up the championship match. Edison had defeated,

LaParl’s goals moved her into fourth place on the Griffins all-time scoring list. With her 18 goals in 17 games this season and the 23 she scored last year while earning all-CIF, All-County and Sunset League Player of the Year honors, the sophomore now has 41 for her career. Her goals in the tournament have moved her past Hayley Bolt and she now trails only Leanna Jay (36) and Sophia (Bo) Medina (51) and all-time leader Liz Willemese. With Los Al having today’s match and eight league matches remaining this season (plus some CIF playoff matches), LaParl should make another serious jump up the list.

La Parl is also a member of the U..S. National U16 Women’s squad.

BOYS SOCCER: Santa Margarita 1, Los Al 1 (SMCHS wins in PKs)

The Griffin Boys Soccer team suffered another tough loss at the High School Showcase Tornament, falling in penalty kicks to Santa maragrita catholic High School.

Senior Louie Arellano put Los Al in front after stealing the ball away from the Eagles keeper and poking it in for a 1-0 lead. Santa martagarita scored midway through the second half to tie-it 1-1 and it remained that through regulation.

Los Al will now play Mater Dei in the tourney finale at 9:45. Mater Dei had beaten Harvard-Westlake 3-0, but by coaches agreement — since MD and Santa Margarita will play each other twice in league play, the two schools switched today’s opponents.

GIRLS BASKETBALL: Los Al 61, Canyon Springs 43

The Los Alamitos Girls Basketball team won its second game of pool play at the West Coast Holiday Classic in San Diego, downing Canyon Springs, 61-43 on Friday afternoon. Sydney Gandy again led the way with 22 points and six assists. Sophmore forward Sumya Evans added 11 points and six renounds and three blocks.
The win, which improved the teams overall record to 13-4, gave the Griffins a 2-2 record in tourney pool play and earned them a Saturday afternoon match against Downey.

STATS: Sydney Gandy 22 pts,6 assists; Sumya Evans 11 pts,6 rebounds, 3 blks; Maya Shimizu 7 pts, Molly Clarke 7 points, 5 assists.

BOYS BASKETBALL: Sebring, Fla. 60, Los Al 53