By STEVE GALLUZZO | Sports Editor
When midfielder Leila Jafari scored with 12 minutes left on a perfectly struck shot from 30 yards out that caught the Cleveland goalkeeper off her line last Wednesday evening, February 21, at Stadium by the Sea, it looked as though the Palisades Charter High School girls soccer team was on its way to the City Division I finals.
However, Cavaliers defender Keira Preis booted the ball into the penalty area where it bounced high on the slick turf, over the head of goalkeeper Jacinda Hevesy-Rodriguez and into the net to tie it 2-2 in the 76th minute. Both teams were cautious for the remainder of regulation, not wanting to make a mistake that could bring an abrupt end to their season.
A 15-minute sudden death overtime period followed, and while both sides generated quality chances, neither was able to scored a golden goal—meaning the outcome would be decided in a shootout.
Palisades’ top scorer Erica Hamilton stepped to the penalty spot first and buried a shot into the lower right corner to give the Dolphins a 1-0 lead. Cleveland answered on its first kick.
Alex DiGennaro had her shot blocked but the referee ruled that Cavaliers goalkeeper Adelaide Souza dove before the ball was struck. Given a second chance, DiGennaro scored to make it 2-1 but again Cleveland answered.
The teams traded goals in the third round but in the fourth Souza made a save and Miranda Reynoso scored to put Cleveland up 4-3. Jafari’s strike to the upper right corner pulled Palisades even, and the Cavaliers’ fifth kicker sailed her attempt over the crossbar, extending the shootout into the sixth round.
After Souza made a diving save, Natalie Grant converted her try, and the Cavaliers prevailed, 5-4.
Cleveland edged West Valley League rival El Camino Real 1-0 in the finals two nights later at Valley College. It was a heartbreaking end to a memorable season for the Dolphins, who won the Western League and finished 20-2-2.
Hamilton set a school single-season record with 33 goals in 21 games played. Jafari had 14 goals and eight assists, Fishman had 11 goals, and DiGennaro had eight goals and 14 assists. Hevesy-Rodriguez made 59 saves and posted 10 shutouts, and the Dolphins allowed a total of 15 goals in 24 games.
After a bye in the first round, the second-seeded Dolphins blanked No. 15 Verdugo Hills 5-0 in the second round. Cami Fishman scored twice, and Hamilton, Ava Friedman and Mae Durkin each had a goal. Hamilton scored all of her team’s goals in a 4-3 quarterfinal victory over league rival Venice.
This is the fourth straight season Palisades has been eliminated in the semifinals. Cleveland beat the Dolphins 2-1 in overtime in 2021, and El Camino Real beat the Dolphins 3-1 in 2022 and 2-0 last year.
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