Co-head coaches Humberto Benitez and Hector Flores knew the Culver City Azul girls soccer team had the talent and chemistry to win the California State title after guiding their 14 year old protégés to the North Torrance Turkey Tournament title last November, but could the squad handle the ebbs and flows of a long all-star season?
They won with the greatest of ease.
Since last Thanksgiving, the Culver City Azul all-star girls soccer team has compiled a record of 29 wins, one loss, and six ties to win the West Torrance Christmas Classic, Area 1P Championship, Riverside Locomotion Tournament, Culver City’s Sony Classic, Section 1 Playoffs and most recently the AYSO California State Championship held in Cathedral City.
Almost paralleling the Girls Under-14 success the Culver City Boys Under 19 all-star team coached by Jim Pochick also won the North Torrance Turkey Tournament and Culver City Sony Classic, but took the time off in between.
Culver City Azul blanked Lakewood, 4-0, to win the state championship in a tense and hard fought game, according to Flores. Culver City broke a scoreless tie 10 minutes into the third quarter when Karissa Corralez broke with a pass from Amanda Jaramillo through the Lakewood defense and put Culver City on top, 1-0. Emma Soto scored two goals and Jasmine Herrera added another in the fourth quarter.
Culver Azul maintained possession most of the game in its 1-0 semi-final win over South Irvine, but was unable to break through until Herrera, assisted by Alyssa Arredondo, scored the go ahead goal with eight minutes left in the game.
Culver goalkeeper Jessye Alfaro cut off a streaking South Irvine forward with 10 minutes remaining in the contest, forcing the shot to angle left of the goal mouth by inches to thwart South Irvine’s scoring threat.
Culver City players are Alfaro, Karina Herrera, Amanda Flores, Soto, Arredondo, Katherine Benitez, Isabel DeHaro, Jaramillo, Danielle Martinez, Karissa Corralez, Samantha Simon, Herrera, Ava Walderman, Sarahi Ortiz and Marlena Backlar.
Coaches are Benitez and Flores with assistance from Antonio Herrera and Junji Watanabe. Team Parent is Belen Flores.