Kick Start

Pali High Girls Soccer Has Enough Depth to Challenge for Section Title

By STEVE GALLUZZO | Sports Editor

Palisades High girls soccer coach surpassed the 100-win plateau last season. This winter, his ninth at the helm, he hopes to reach another milestone for the program by piloting the Dolphins to their first-ever City Section upper division championship.

The varsity squad is off to a fast start with victories in its first two games, both at Stadium by the Sea—a 3-0 shutout of Western League rival Venice last Friday and a 2-0 triumph over defending Division I champion Cleveland on Monday.

“We only had three full practices before Venice, but I like what I’ve seen,” said Chambers, who has led the Dolphins to eight straight Western League titles. “Our depth is way better this year and that’s important. Our starting 11 was great last season but it’s basically the same this year   and we still have to get a couple girls back.”

Erica Hamilton, who scored a team-best 15 goals as a sophomore last winter, has piucked up where she left off, scoring twice in the first half  against Cleveland. Fellow junior Alex Digenarro netted two goals and senior Alaina Porter (second on the squad last year wth 13 goals) added one in the opener versus Venice in which senior Hannah Kalt had two assists.

Junior goalkeeper Jacinda Hevesy-Rodriguez, who recorded nine shutouts and allowed eight goals in 17 games played one year ago, only had to make five saves in the first two games this season to keep a clean sheet.     

Which is the team to beat this season? Chambers believes it is a familiar foe, El Camino Real, which knocked the Dolphins out with a 3-1 triumph in the semifinals in February before falling to Cleveland 4-2 in the finals.   

“It depends on what ECR has, but I like our chances,” Chambers said. “Cleveland graduated most of their team, Granada Hills lost its best player and we have a lot of girls who can score and we don’t lose much if anything with our second team in. San Pedro should be strong as usual but we wouldn’t see them until the playoffs.”