Harvard-Westlake girls soccer tops Santiago in drama-filled Division 1 semifinal 

May 23, 2021 LawsonRealtyGroup Real Estate News 0


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STUDIO CITY – In a much-anticipated semifinal soccer match, the drama is expected to be on the field. For example, a go-ahead goal in stoppage time, maybe the brandishing of a red card, or dreaded penalty kicks.

That wasn’t quite the drama that filled Harvard-Westlake’s 4-1 win over Santiago in the CIF Southern Section Division 1 girls soccer semifinal Saturday afternoon.

Alyssa Thompson scored two goals and Daniela Quintero and Sophia Haynes scored the other two to give the Wolverines their first appearance in a CIF-SS final since 2010, and its first Division 1 final appearance since 2006.

  • Harvard-Westlake’s Daniela Quintero, right, reacts after scoring as Corona Santiago’s Shaye Douglas looks on in a D1 semifinal Saturday, May 22, 2021 at Harvard-Westlake. (Photo by Michael Owen Baker, contributing photographer)

  • Harvard-Westlake’s Alyssa Thompson advances the ball against Corona Santiago in a D1 semifinal Saturday, May 22, 2021 at Harvard-Westlake. (Photo by Michael Owen Baker, contributing photographer)

  • Harvard-Westlake’s Ellie Baron, right, tries to get through Corona Santiago’s Shelby Irwin in a D1 semifinal Saturday, May 22, 2021 at Harvard-Westlake. (Photo by Michael Owen Baker, contributing photographer)

  • Corona Santiago’s Autumn Thompkins and Harvard-Westlake’s Gisele Thompson battle for the ball in a D1 semifinal Saturday, May 22, 2021 at Harvard-Westlake. (Photo by Michael Owen Baker, contributing photographer)

  • The head referee tells the Corona Santiago coach to remove Corona Santiago fans from the stands in a D1 semifinal against Harvard-Westlake, Saturday, May 22, 2021 at Harvard-Westlake. (Photo by Michael Owen Baker, contributing photographer)

  • Corona Santiago fans leave the stands in the middle of the second half of a D1 semifinal against Harvard-Westlake, Saturday, May 22, 2021 at Harvard-Westlake. (Photo by Michael Owen Baker, contributing photographer)

  • The Corona Santiago stands are empty after a referee ordered fans leave in the middle of the second half of a D1 semifinal against Harvard-Westlake, Saturday, May 22, 2021 at Harvard-Westlake. (Photo by Michael Owen Baker, contributing photographer)

  • Corona Santiago’s Krystal Medina takes a tumble after being fouled by Harvard-Westlake in a D1 semifinal Saturday, May 22, 2021 at Harvard-Westlake. (Photo by Michael Owen Baker, contributing photographer)

  • Harvard-Westlake’s Alyssa Thompson tries to get past Corona Santiago goalkeeper Trinity Corcoran in a D1 semifinal Saturday, May 22, 2021 at Harvard-Westlake. (Photo by Michael Owen Baker, contributing photographer)

  • Harvard-Westlake’s Alyssa Thompson, second from left, is congratulated by teammates after making a penalty kick against Corona Santiago in a D1 semifinal Saturday, May 22, 2021 at Harvard-Westlake. (Photo by Michael Owen Baker, contributing photographer)

  • Harvard-Westlake’s Daniela Quintero, right, scores the go-ahead goal as Corona Santiago’s Shaye Douglas defends in a D1 semifinal Saturday, May 22, 2021 at Harvard-Westlake. (Photo by Michael Owen Baker, contributing photographer)

  • Harvard-Westlake’s Alyssa Thompson shoots against Corona Santiago in a D1 semifinal Saturday, May 22, 2021 at Harvard-Westlake. (Photo by Michael Owen Baker, contributing photographer)

  • Harvard-Westlake’s Gisele Thompson, left, and Corona Santiago’s Autumn Thompkins battle for the ball in a D1 semifinal Saturday, May 22, 2021 at Harvard-Westlake. (Photo by Michael Owen Baker, contributing photographer)

  • The head referee confers with school officials to remove Corona Santiago fans from the stands in a D1 semifinal against Harvard-Westlake, Saturday, May 22, 2021 at Harvard-Westlake. (Photo by Michael Owen Baker, contributing photographer)

  • Corona Santiago fans leave the stands in the middle of the second half of a D1 semifinal against Harvard-Westlake, Saturday, May 22, 2021 at Harvard-Westlake. (Photo by Michael Owen Baker, contributing photographer)

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“We got punched in the mouth early, but then after we scored and I felt like we calmed down and took control of the game, especially in the second half,” Harvard-Westlake coach Richard Simms said.

Santiago’s Madysen Legere scored in the seventh minute to take a 1-0 lead before Haynes scored an equalizer minutes later with a right-footed strike from outside the 18-yard box.

Santiago keeper Trinity Corcoran had an outstanding save just before halftime to keep the score 1-1, deflecting a sure goal away with her right hand.

“It’s disappointing not to defend our CIF title, but we’ll be amped for (CIF) State playoffs,” Corcoran said of the Sharks, who won the Division 1 crown last year.

Quintero’s go-ahead goal came in the 43rd minute before Thompson, with a penalty kick (66th minute) and stoppage time goal, put the match away. Thompson now has 38 goals in 13 matches this season.

But even Santiago coach Mike Fleming says the Wolverines are much more than Thompson and her speedy sister, Gisele.

“Anyone who thinks this Harvard-Westlake team is just Alyssa and Gisele has another thing coming,” Fleming said.

“That’s a very disciplined team, a very good team. Alyssa and Gisele add to that team, they aren’t the team,” Corcoran added.

Harvard-Westlake will travel to Villa Park or Pacifica of Garden Grove on Friday or Saturday for the Division 1 final.

Santiago fans asked to leave

The head referee tells the Corona Santiago coach to remove the team’s from the stands during a Division 1 semifinal against Harvard-Westlake, Saturday, May 22, 2021 at Harvard-Westlake. (Photo by Michael Owen Baker, contributing photographer)

In the middle of the second half, center referee Brandon Will stopped play and ordered the Santiago fans to clear the stands. He told Santiago coach Mike Fleming he heard obscenities from the visiting fans.

Will threatened to end the game – which was sitting at 3-1 – if the fans weren’t cleared in a three-minute window.

“In my 22 years I’ve never seen anything like that before,” Fleming said. “The official allowed his ego to get in the way. He said someone called him gay from our stands. For him to accuse our fans of that is ludicrous.”

The Santiago parents, who trekked two hours for the match, picked up their things and cleared the stands so that the team would be able to finish the match.

“The assistant ref didn’t hear anything, none of our families heard anything, but the center ref is saying someone used the F-word and used an off-color epitaph against him,” said Dana Potts, a father for one of Santiago’s players.



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