CANOGA PARK EASES INTO CITY TITLE GAME HUNTERS REMAIN PERFECT WITH ROUT CANOGA PARK 5, HAMILTON 0.Byline: Heather Gripp Staff Writer Canoga Park High insists it isn't as easy it looks. The competition really is tougher in the postseason. It's just that the Hunters don't appear to be challenged. That's certainly how it looked on Wednesday, when No. 1 Canoga Park continued its romp through the City Section boys' soccer playoffs, routing visiting Hamilton of West Los Angeles
The Hunters extended their perfect season and advanced to Saturday night's championship game against Birmingham of Lake Balboa Balboa, town (1990 pop. 2,751), Colón prov., in the former Panama Canal Zone, on the Gulf of Panama. The port for Panama City, Balboa was the administrative headquarters of the Panama Canal Zone. It was also the site of a U.S. navy base (closed 1999). at East L.A. College. The Hunters (23-0-0) have outscored opponents 18-0 through four rounds of playoffs. They have shut out their past 11 foes and have 16 shutouts this season. ``It's not easy,'' said junior Camilo Rojas, who scored his team-best 30th goal of the season. ``It's a lot of hard work and practice going into this. A lot of practice. We all work really hard to get out on this field and win.'' Canoga Park, which hasn't lost since its elimination in the second round of last year's playoffs, have scored at least four goals in each of their playoff games Noun 1. playoff game - one game in the series of games constituting a playoff game - a single play of a sport or other contest; "the game lasted two hours" playoff - any final competition to determine a championship . It dominated third-seeded Birmingham 5-0 early in the season. No. 5 Hamilton (14-2-1) entered the semifinals following an impressive run, but the Yankees quickly discovered they were no match for the Hunters. Rojas took Canoga Park's first shot just 20 seconds into the game. Several big plays by Hamilton freshman goalkeeper For the close-in weapon system, see . In many team sports, a goalkeeper (termed goaltender, netminder, goalie, or keeper in some sports) is a designated player that is charged with directly preventing the opposite team from scoring by defending the Kevin Alonzo kept the game scoreless until the 21st minute, but goals by Jesus Sandoval and Salvador Hernandez provided Canoga Park a 2-0 halftime lead against a team that hadn't previously allowed a postseason goal. Rojas made it 3-0 five minutes into the second half, Rafael Garcia Rafael Garcia may refer to:
The previous claim is unfounded. capped the scoring in the 65th minute. Hamilton, which received two second-half red cards, playing cards, playing: see playing cards. the final 12 minutes with just nine players, was held to two shots. A season full of similarly lopsided lop·sid·ed adj. 1. Heavier, larger, or higher on one side than on the other. 2. Sagging or leaning to one side. 3. games hasn't hurt the Hunters' motivation. ``These guys are players,'' Canoga Park coach Jake Gwin said. ``They know what's at stake. They're competitors and take pride in competing at their highest level. They don't want to let up. ``It's the competition great players love, not just playing for wins and losses.'' Heather Gripp, (818) 713-3607 heather.gripp(at)dailynews.com CAPTION(S): 2 photos Photo: (color) Victor Sanchez, left, fires past Hamilton's Jason Klibingat, Canoga Park's fifth goal in the City Section semifinal romp. Tom Mendoza/Staff Photographer |
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