Own Goal is the Difference

Tue, Jan 30th - Playing on the lower field with a 6:30 pm start and some standing water on the synthetic field from earlier rain storms the Lions played host to the Regents. Early in the second half a miscue by OC's goalkeeper resulted in an anticlimatic goal for the Regents of La Reina. This proved to be all that was needed as the Lions were held scoreless for the 6th time this season. OC's all time record versus LR is now 1-2-0 (w-l-t) with its only win coming in the 2005 playoffs.

Seniors Push the Eagles 89 Minutes

Mon, Jan 29th - THe Lions traveled to Oaks Park HS for the second TVL match up of the season. OC scored first when Senior Sam Fiala notched her first career goal with an assist from Sam Nordlund. Oak Park scored the next two goals to take an advantage. With two minutes reamaining in regulation Casey DaSilva talied her four goal of the season with an assist from Kelsea Smith. The goal tied the game and, under TVL rules, the game went to two five minute overtimes. With one minute reamining in the second overtime the Eagles scored the game winner. This is OP's first vicotry in five games versus OC. OC's record versus OP is now 3-1-1 (w-l-t).

Friday and the 13th Equate to Good News for OC

Fri, Jan 26th - Lions won their 13th all time victory in as many games versus Malibu. A week that began poorly ended in good order, with two wins and a season sweep of Malibu. The Sharks have played OC more than any other school and, well, have lost to OC more than any school! With an Oak Park victory over St Bonaventure the same day OC is now just one game out of first place in the TVL. That means OC is in control of winning the Tri-Valley League Title...just win! Win the last five games and they will win OC's fifth consecutive league title.

Casey DaSilva got the scoring started collecting a free kick from Kelsea Smith in the 18th minute, scoring her 12th career goal and third of the year. Casey returned the favor twelve minutes later assisting Kelsea's goal in the 30th minute. This was Kelsea's 39th career goal to add to her 30th career assist earlier. Malibu avoided the shut out scoring one goal in the 52nd minute. Kelly Johnson rounded out the game scoring when she converted a penalty kick in the 68th minute following her being fouled in the penalty box. This was Kelly's fourth career and season goal.

Kelsea's 39th goal ties her with Molly Taylor for #4 all time for career goals in OC's history, and her 30th assist makes her #5 all time for career assists in OC's history.

Superlatives:
OC has now scored 593 goals since the program began almost seven seasons ago. Will the 600th goal be scored this week? Who will do the honors?

Lions Repay Rangers with a Come from Behind Win

Wed, Jan 24th - The Lions on the road for the second game in a row took on Nordhoff in Ranger territory. for the second year in a row the Lions revenged a loss to Nordhoff with a resounding victory. Nordhoff grabbed an early lead converting on a cornerkick in the 5th minute. The Lions were held scoreles for the first half although out shooting their opponents 6-3. In the 60th minute the Rangers physical play hurt them when the surrendered a free kick 25 yards out and then surrendered the the game tying goal as Kelsea Smith took the kick. This ended a 237 minute scoreless streak for OC. Nine minutes later Kristen Clark made a long pass to Kelly Johnson's foot who turned, split two defenders and looped a through ball to Kelsea. Smith ran down the ball, separating from the defenders, and placed the ball over the charging goalkeeper's reach to score the game winner. Kelsea now has # goals for the season. Kelly and Kristen have 5 and 1 assists respectively for the seson.

Seraphs Remain Undefeated in TVL, Beat the Lions

Mon, Jan 22th - The Lions traveled to St. Bonaventure to play for the first time ever on the StB home field. OC-StB had only faced each other in the Beuna Tournament or at Thorson Stadium previuosly. After a scoreless first half the Seraphs tenacity finally paid off with three goals in the second half. Two goals can from headers off of corner kicks, and the other came with a break away after moving Kelsea from sweeper to forward. It is reasonable to say OC out played StB in a number of aspects, but only goals win games. OC's over all record versus StB is 3-2-0 (w-l-t).

Lions Tie Cardinals

The Lions hosted Santa Paula at Thorson Stadium. This was the tenth time in OC's history the two schools have played, ninth time for a league game, but forst as a Tri-Valley match up. The Cardinals quieted the Lions offense and held the Lions scoreless dispite 16 shots on goal versus SP's 5 shots. after two scoreless overtimes the game ended in a 0-0 draw. SP had previously held St Bonaventure 0-0 as well. OC's overall record versus SP is now 9-0-1 (w-l-t) with 10 shut outs.

Stats of the Week

Following the Nordhoff loss the Lions were dropped from the CIF Southern Section rankings (top 10) for the first time since the start of the 2001-2002 season. A streak that extended six seasons has ended. Coach Hethcock expressed relief at the deminished attention since rankings have no impact on the regular season.

This is interesting because OC has only lost to four games to division 5 schools since January of 2003 (twice to Nordhoff). OC has played a total of 97 games versus CIF SS D5 schools since the prgram's beginning in 2000-2001 with an all-time record of 80 wins, 10 losses and 7 ties.

Here are the Stats of the Week:

- 4 years and one month consecutively ranked in the CIF SS Top 10
(since December Week One of 2001 until January Week One of 2007)


- Record vs.
CIF SS D6 5-0-0
CIF SS D5 80-10-7
CIF SS D4 1-0-0
CIF SS D3 2-1-0
CIF SS D2 20-7-9
CIF SS D1 4-2-2
CIF SDS 3-4-1 San Diego Section

- Records versus CIF SS D5 schools that have defeated OC (w-l-t):
Nordhoff (6-3-2) Buena Tourney 2003, Frontier 2006, Tri-Valley 2007
Cate (2-2-0) Both losses in OC's inaugrual season 2001
La Reina (1-1-0) loss in inaugrual season 2001
L.A. Baptist (1-1-0) loss in inaugrual season 2001
Pasadena Poly (0-1-0) CIF SS Quarterfinals, PP won the CIF SS D5 Championship
Granite Hills (2-1-0) CIF SS Semifinals, GH won the CIF SS D5 Championship

Two Wins Turning Things Around

Lions are heading in the right direction again with two solid wins over Malibu and Oak Park. Monday the Lions traveled to Malibu and defeated the Sharks 2-0. Wednesday the Lions hosted the Eagles defeating them 1-0. OC's all-time record versus the Shraks is now 12 wins, no losses, no ties. all-time OC's record versus the Eagles is 3 wins, no losses, 1 tie.

Nordhoff Ends OC's League Home Undefeated Streak

Thu, Jan 4, 2007 -- The Lions opened league play and the new year with a tough set back. Nordhoff handed the lions a 0-2 loss ending the OC's undefeated streak for league games at home at 16 games. OC had never lost a home league game prior.

But, not to worry. Last season Nordhoff beat OC 0-3 in the league opener, and then OC beat Nordhoff 2-0 in the second game. The Lions will get there revenge...