Girls Soccer Teams representing Coronado High School and University of San Diego High School battled for 110 minutes of game time, stretched over 2 hours and 20 minutes at Patrick Henry High School Saturday in the CIF Division III championship game. At the conclusion of the second sudden-death overtime, both teams had scored one goal each and were declared CIF Co-Champions.

The game was the third time the Western League rivals had faced each other this season, with the first game played at USDHS a 0-0 tie, while the return match played at Coronado was won by the Dons 2-1. Mix in the CIF match and with three games and 270 total minutes of soccer played, you can safely say the two teams were evenly matched.

To look at it from the Coronado perspective, supplied by Head Coach Miles Ramirez, "Saturday, we were the better team. We’re the defending CIF Division III champions and they didn’t take it from us. We’re still the champions."

Coronado was much sharper in the opening minutes of play against USDHS than they had been Wednesday evening on the same field in the semi-final game against Valhalla, which the Islanders won 1-0. In the first half against USDHS, Coronado won virtually all of the 50-50 balls, and took their ball-control ground game to the Dons.

As a result Coronado scored first in the CIF final with 6:09 remaining in the first half, on a well-struck header by senior sweeper Maureen Mulvey from a perfectly placed corner kick from junior Sasha Vido. Mulvey’s contribution in the championship game was very much in doubt, as she had been sidelined for two weeks with a twisted ankle, and was in and out of the lineup in Wednesday’s semi-final.

As dominant as Coronado was in the first half, USDHS took the attack to Coronado in the second half, dominating play. Most of the half was competed in the Islanders defensive end of the field, with USDHS pushing the advantage. At the 22:38 mark of the second half, the Dons were awarded a penalty shot as a result of a somewhat questionable call in the penalty box. USDHS forward Jasmine Namdar converted the opportunity, evening the score.

Both goals in the contest were scored at the same end of the field, a point made after the contest by Ramirez. "There was a north to south wind going through the stadium. If you looked at the corner flags, they were blowing straight toward the goal. That’s why that goal was being attacked. The wind was magnified down on the field."

Coronado’s standout senior goalie Jamie Klages was tested repeatedly in the second half and answered the challenge. Klages showed why she will be continuing her career at the Division I level with an acrobatic save that in all likelihood saved the Islanders’ season. "Jamie made another phenomenal save," Ramirez said. "She always amazes us with her dazzling athleticism. We would have been down 2-1 with 10 minutes to go if she hadn’t made that save."

The first overtime was an evenly contested affair, with Coronado dominating the second overtime. The Islanders fired several times on the USDHS goal, including a laser from sophomore Kelly Walsh that hit the left upright.

Ramirez was disappointed in the tie, but not in his team’s effort. "We went after this game. We weren’t going to sit back and defend. We made some aggressive decisions as a team and stuck with them. We controlled USDHS in long stretches during the game. The girls were well prepared. In know they are disappointed (with the tie game). I was disappointed knowing we should have won the game."

The semi-final contest against Valhalla was unique in two respects. First, the game’s referee disallowed a Coronado goal, which would have made the final result 2-0, because she didn’t see the ball pass through a hole in the goal’s net. The referee’s mistaken call took a great scoring effort off the board from Vido, who had converted on a beautiful crossing pass from Ashley Copp. That left Rachel Poe’s shot from 10 meters at 32:24 of the first half as the lone and game-winning score.

Second, as good as her save was in the second half of the USDHS game, the University of Nebraska-bound Klages had an even better effort with 10:36 left in the game against Valhalla. Said Ramirez of Klages’ diving, acrobatic save on a hard shot headed toward the Islander goal, "that was one of the best saves I’ve ever seen. That was the game breaker there. If that shot had gone in, they (Valhalla) would have had the momentum. We got the good result out of the game."

The CIF championship game marked the last game for Ramirez as head coach of the Islander Girls Soccer Team. Starting with the 1994-95 season, Ramirez has guided the team for the last 11 years and claimed a Division IV CIF title and a Division III CIF title in 2003-04 to go nicely with the Co-championship earned this season. The Islanders posted a remarkable 24-3-3 record in 2004-05. This year’s squad was consistently ranked as one of the Top 10 in the CIF San Diego section.

"I had a great time," said the personable Ramirez of his tenure at CHS. "I don’t think there is a better community or a better school than Coronado. Sandy Ferguson (CHS Athletic Director) and the administration did a good job of supporting athletics at the high school. It is definitely a first-class school. I hate to leave, but it’s more the location of where I live (Scripps Ranch) than anything. It’s the time consumption and the drive. It’s been well worth it for the last 11 years. I’ll be around. I’ll be hiding in the bushes. I’ll never, ever coach against Coronado. That’s a promise I made to the girls."

In a related note, Klages will be joined by three other CHS players who will pursue their soccer careers at the next level. Ashley Copp had signed with Pepperdine University earlier in the season. Last week Ashley Walsh signed with College of the Holy Cross and Alex Vido will play next season at Westminster (Pa.) College.

Banquet season was in high gear last week, with three of the winter sports teams holding their post-season celebration. Thursday at the Coronado Municipal Golf Course, The Girls Water Polo Team held their celebration and the team awards from Head Coach Dave Throop included: MVP – Megan Braun; Most Valuable Offensive Players – Katie Estrada and Hannah Sebenaler; Most Valuable Defensive Player – Sandra Fernandez; Most Improved Players – Kelly Phelps and Emily Bigham; Islander Sports Foundation Award for Integrity, Sportsmanship and Friendship – Fernandez; Coaches’ Award – Molly Patrick; Team Captains – Elizabeth Hopkins, Fernandez and Braun; Golden Tassel Award for Academic Achievement – Braun.

The Girls Water Polo JV Awards as announced by Head Coach Ian Silverman: MVP – Alana Burgess; Most Valuable Offensive Player – Maggie Sosnowski; Most Valuable Defensive Player – Danielle Goldblatt; Most Improved Players – Kendra Owens and Julie Zeller; Coaches’ Award – Ali Rogers; Team Captain – Morgan Ronimus.

Also Thursday at the Coronado Yacht Club, the Girls Basketball awards were presented. Head Coach Toler Goodwin presented the following awards: MVP – Brooke Becky; Most Valuable Defensive Player – Ashley Depfer; Rookie of the Year – Tiffany Depfer; Co-Most Improved Players – Farrell Pompa and Jessica Davis-Ricci; the Islander Sports Foundation Award for Integrity, Sportsmanship and Friendship – Amanda Marks; Co-Captains – Ashley Depfer and Marks.

The Junior Varsity awards as announced by Head Coach Robin Nixon – MVP and Co-Captain – Lisa Bernardy; Co-Captain Hallie Todaro; Most Valuable Defensive Player – Kelsey Branch; and Most Improved Player – Rosetta Wilson.

Sunday the Boys Basketball program took over the Coronado Yacht Club for their banquet. The Varsity awards presented by Head Coach Sandy Dillon included: Co-MVP’s – Alex Fairman and Adam Munns; Team Captain and Islander Sports Foundation Award winner for Integrity, Sportsmanship and Friendship – Reid McLean; Coach’s Awards – Brad Munns and Jonathan Smith; Most Improved – Drew Zeller.

JV Head Coach Robbin Adair announced his club’s awards as follows: MVP – Geoff Worley; Most Improved Player – Anthony Ott; Tri-Captains – Peter Chen, Liam Cronan and Worley.

Frosh/Soph Boys Basketball Head Coach Bob Lindfelt named Daniel Lewis as the winner of the 100 per cent award; Alex Rowan was recognized for having the Best Developed Skills; and Matt Fowler was named Best Overall Player.

The CHS Boys Lacrosse Team has accepted an invitation to play Northern California prep power St. Ignatius Saturday, as part of the inaugural First Four Tournament in Carson at the Home Depot Center. Coronado will face St. Ignatius in one of the preliminary games played prior to the NCAA portion of the event, which will include top-ranked teams from Notre Dame, Syracuse, North Carolina and Georgetown.

Considered to be one of the premier prep lacrosse programs in California, Coronado was selected to participate in the prestigious invitational tournament. The game against St. Ignatius will be the regular season opener for Coronado. Napolitano GMAC Real Estate is providing sponsorship for the trip.

Later this season, Coronado will face De La Salle High School from the San Francisco Bay Area and Foothill High School from the Los Angeles area. Later this month Coronado will have the opportunity to expand their national recognition level when they host Wantaugh High School from Long Island, New York.

A good portion of the success of a softball team is based on the quality of the starting pitching. Fortunately for CHS Softball Head Coach Ed Shanholtz, both of his hurlers from last year junior Kristin Barker and sophomore Sara Noceto return for the 2005 season. Barker and Noceto will alternate starts again this year, with freshman Christy Mebust serving as a spot starter and reliever. She will also fill in at both infield and outfield spots, depending on who is pitching for the Islanders.

The team is very young, with only one senior on the varsity roster. However, there are six returning players on the squad, so there is some experience. Farrell Pompa is making the somewhat unusual transition from catcher last year to shortstop this season. "Farrell has a quick release (on her throwing motion), which helps a lot," said Shanholtz of the junior Pompa, who was named to the Western League Second Team last year and will hit third in the lineup for Shanholtz. "That will help her make the transition."

Also returning from last year’s squad are outfielders Jessica Davis-Ricci and Karli Massie, and first baseman Sara Stillman. Handling the catching duties this season will be Alana Zimmer.

Barker is the leadoff hitter for the Islanders and plays center field when she isn’t on the mound. Noceto hits fifth and plays third when she doesn’t toe the rubber. Second baseman Lisa Bernardy hits second in the order.

The Islanders opened their season with a game against Montgomery High School, which the Islanders won by the lopsided score of 14-3. Coronado as a team had 11 hits in 30 at bats (.370), while Noceto and Barker combined to twirl a one-hitter. "Everybody played really well," added Shanholtz. "As a team, we didn’t strike out at all."

Pompa was 2-5, at the plate, scored three runs and had three stolen bases; Noceto had a double and a triple in three trips to the plate, scoring three runs; and Mebust, obviously not having any problem playing as a freshman on the varsity level, had three hits in four plate appearances, scored one run and had a stolen base.

Coronado will compete again in the Western League. Shanholtz handicaps the conference race. "USDHS at the top will be the favorite to win the league, followed by Clairemont and University City. We’re going to be in the middle of the pack. We’re a young team and I hope we play up to our abilities. We have to learn how to play together." Other Western League teams include Mission Bay, Point Loma, and La Jolla.

Shanholtz will carry 13 players on the varsity.

Shanholtz is assisted on the varsity level by John McClimon and Greg Loving. Tony Isabella will coach the 13-member Junior Varsity team, assisted by Quinn Renfro, Brenda Smith and Katy Clark.

Head CHS Boys Golf Coach Dr. Lee Price has a deep and talented squad to choose from this season when he determines his starting lineup. Returning from last year’s team are Taylor Hakes, Stuart Harris, Stuart Gallant, Sean-Ryan McCray and Bryan Reed.

Other golfers who should contribute include Nick Finley, James Carney, Liam Cronan, Weston Moore and Scotty Aurich. Freshman Michael Emerson, a transfer from Australia and Daniel De Arriba a transfer from Hawaii, will contribute as well.

The Islanders are off to a 2-0 start in the early going of the 2005 season, having defeated Hoover 206-343 in their first match (six golfers compete, the best five scores are used), followed by a 195-206 victory over Scripps Ranch Thursday on their home Coronado Municipal Golf Course. In a match scheduled for Monday, Coronado will face USDHS at Riverwalk Country Club. Thursday the Islanders will host La Jolla at Coronado Municipal. Both teams are among the best in San Diego County.

"Clairemont will be our biggest competition in the Harbor League according to the scores I’ve seen," said Price. "For CIF play, we are in Division II along with USDHS, St. Augustine and La Jolla Country Day." The balance of the Harbor League includes Christian, Crawford, Hoover, Madison and Coronado.

Junior pitcher/shortstop Kevin Couture was named one of the ‘Baseball Players to Watch’ in the March 1, 2005 edition of ‘The San Diego Union-Tribune.’ The team had their first regular season home game against Mira Mesa scheduled for Saturday was postponed to Wed. March 16. The team is now scheduled to open their season in an early-week game Monday at San Diego High School. They open at home Wednesday with a game against Otay Ranch at 3 pm.