Soccer Squads Start Strong

By STEVE GALLUZZO | Sports Editor

If Palisades High girls varsity soccer coach Christian Chambers was thrilled about his team’s season-opening 3-0 win against Culver City he was mildly upset with last Thursday’s 0-0 draw at Santa Monica.

“We were probably the better team and finished the strongest,” he said. “I thought we did enough to win so we’re a little disappointed but it’s a good test for the girls.”

Chambers was impressed by the performance of senior goalkeeper Rachel Phillips, who posted her second straight shutout.

“She only had two saves but she caught every cross,” Chambers said. “She’s doing the simple things very well.”

Palisades was slated to begin Western League action yesterday at home against Westchester and travels to University tomorrow.

Meanwhile, Pali High’s boys squad also enjoyed a rousing debut, blanking Malibu 3-0 last Friday at Stadium by the Sea.

Shayan Safa scored two goals early in the second half and Ethan  Miller-Dambrosia then tallied the clincher on a rebound off of a direct free kick in the 74th minute. Goalkeeper Jamin Bay made five saves for the Dolphins.

“Jackson [Page] made a super kick that hit off the post and I just volleyed it with my left foot,” said  Miller-Dambrosia. “This is a good start. We moved the ball a lot, but  but we could’ve finished better.”

Palisades, which beat Malibu by the same score on the road last season, won its first City title two years ago but was stunned by Sylmar in the quarterfinals last year.

Finn Bradley, Luis Hernandez, Roland Panza, Jorge Morell, Cristian Quintero-Morales, Josh Barad, Lucas Guarachi, Leo Sterza and Daniel Colindres and Brent Smith played strong for Palisades.