2003-2004
CIF Division VI CHAMPS!
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2003-04 League Champs!
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| L.A.
Times - March 3, 2004
Rowland
7, Garden Grove 6 Among Hale's goals were two converted in man-advantage situtations, one on a four-meter penalty shot and one from the perimeter as the 35 second clock expired. Her first score was a natural goal through a block. Danielle Montenegro converted what turned out to be the decisive goal, making the score 7-4 with 4:43 to play. Elizabeth Hahn had the other goal for Rowland. Jeanette De Meneces,
who finished with four goals for Garden Grove (25-5), scored twice in
the last 2:57, including one to pull the Argonauts within the final
margin with 37 seconds to go. De Meneces' sister, Laura De
Meneces, missed a last second desperation shot from beyond half-court
to end the game. |
The third-year coach, soaking wet from his team's celebratory jump into the Belmont Plaza Pool, could finally exhale after what has been an amazing two-year run for his program. Rowland used five goals from Julie Hale and a stellar performance from goalie Janice Kang to defeat Garden Grove, 7-6, and win its second straight CIF-Southern Section Division VI title. " I'm glad it's over,' Clements said. "It's been a long time coming this year. We knew we had enough girls from last year's team to possibly repeat. " The girls worked their butts off all year long, and to get to this point, and win it, is a big sigh of relief.' The Raiders never trailed in the game, and were tied briefly, late in the second quarter. Elizabeth Hahn's goal with less than a second left in the first half broke the tie, and put Rowland ahead 4-3 at intermission. Garden Grove had several chances to score in the third quarter, but Kang thwarted most of them. Kang saved two potential game- tying shots from Ashley Warren on Garden Grove's first two possessions of the third quarter. " Janice set out to show how good she is, and just dominated in goal,' Clements said. "When we needed blocks, she came up with the huge blocks. They couldn't find the cage on her. She was unstoppable.' Hale helped Rowland capitalize on Kang's defense by scoring her fourth goal of the game on an assist from Danielle Montenegro. Garden Grove scored with just nine seconds left in the third on a goal by Kassie Mann, whose shot hooked past Kang and into the right corner of the net. Hale and Montenegro scored goals 30 seconds apart early in the fourth quarter to put Rowland comfortably ahead, 7-4. " They (Garden Grove) set out to to shut down Rebecca Edwards, because she scored five goals last game,' Clements said. "They shut her down, but then Julie Hale stepped up and scored five goals. That's what being a team is all about.' Jeanette De Meneces scored a goal with two minutes left, then another with 37 seconds remaining, but Rowland was able to run out the clock. " I think last year's experience really helped us out,' Clements said. "Every time they'd score and make it close, we'd go ahead, again, by a couple. Whenever we needed a big goal, we were able to get it. " Then, at the end of the game, our experience helped because all we needed to do was run the clock out, which we did. They didn't have any timeouts left, and my captain, Julie Hale, knew it.' Hale scored three goals in the first quarter to give Rowland a 3-0 lead. Garden Grove got its first goal on a back-hander from De Meneces late in the first quarter. Edwards had two shots, which could've increased Rowland's lead, hit off the goal early in the second quarter. De Meneces used good position to score with 3:30 left in the second quarter, before Chrissy Campisi eventually tied the game, 36 seconds before halftime. -- Aram Tolegian can be reached at (626) 962-8811, Ext. 2233, or by e-mail at aram.tolegian@sgvn.com . |
Fighter
by Christina Aguilera
