CITY SECTION GIRLS' SOCCER PLAYOFFS: TAFT WIN SETS SHOWDOWN WITH EL CAMINO REAL.

Byline: Daily News

From the moment City Section playoff pairings were released, players on the Taft High of Woodland Hills girls' soccer team weren't allowed to talk about a potential matchup with West Valley League rival El Camino Real of Woodland Hills.

After Tuesday night's 1-0 second-round victory over ninth-seeded North Hollywood at Chaminade High in West Hills, the eighth-seeded Toreadors finally were given the green light by coach Greg Venger.

``All along, these girls wanted ECR, and now they've earned that right,'' said Venger, whose team - which will play at top-seeded El Camino Real (17-3-1) at 3 p.m. Thursday - reached the quarterfinals for the first time in program history. ``I told them not to look past Sylmar or North Hollywood, but now they get the opportunity to play the best team in the City four years running, and that's all you can ask for.''

Natalie Hanassab scored off a long cross from Joanna Guatemala in the 44th minute for Taft (19-6-2), which also beat North Hollywood (17-7-5) in the Sylmar tournament in December.

``We talked about getting a goal early (in the second half),'' Venger said. ``That was really the only chance we had, but Joanna made that play happen. I said when the draw came out that North Hollywood scared me. They're a good team.''

The Huskies, who reached the second round after going 3-14-3 last season, had three good looks at the goal in the final 15 minutes. Lara Takasugi's 30-yard free kick in the 78th minute sailed inches over the crossbar.

- Erik Boal

--Kennedy 3, Narbonne 1: Jessica Torres, who had two goals, and Amanda Bernal both scored in the second half to break a 1-1 tie as visiting Kennedy of Granada Hills (8-4-5), the 18th seed, upset second-seeded Narbonne of Harbor City (18-4-3).

``We talked about having the opportunity to shock the world today. We did it. We're excited.'' Kennedy coach Vicky Lagos said. ``We think we can make a little run.''

Goalkeepers Saida Hernandez and Katie Kirkpatrick combined for 16 saves for Kennedy.

--Granada Hills 3, South Gate 0: Ashleigh Ravella and Ashley Hill scored in the first half and Rhiannon Macumber added one in second half for host Granada Hills (12-8-4), which advanced to the quarterfinals for the fifth consecutive season.

The sixth-seeded Highlanders play at 3 p.m. Thursday at third-seeded Chatsworth, which defeated Granada Hills twice this season in West Valley League play. Chatsworth also knocked Granada Hills out of the playoffs last season.

``If you can't get up for a team like Chatsworth, you can't get up for anyone. We'll be ready,'' Granada Hills coach Lynda Fritschie said. ``It's a mental thing. We're two evenly matched teams.''

--Chatsworth 7, Monroe 2: Jessica Skowron scored two goals and had an assist, Alexa Deever scored twice, and Morgan Liggera finished with five saves for host Chatsworth (13-6-2) in the second-round victory over 11th-seeded Monroe of North Hills (12-2-1).

--El Camino Real 11, Locke 1: Four-time defending section champion El Camino Real of Woodland Hills (17-3-1) overcame a 1-0 deficit 15 minutes in against 16th-seeded Locke of Los Angeles (17-4-1) to cruise to the second-round victory at home.

Katie Oakes and Nikki Walberg had hat tricks, Erin Kelly had two goals and three assists, Megan Quinn scored twice, and Niki Connolly added a goal for El Camino Real, which remained unbeaten in its past 16 games. ECR has won 20 consecutive playoff games.