Cleveland falls in SoCal Regional, but future is bright for Cavaliers
Amber Ramirez decided that she was going to be a part of history when she arrived for her freshman season with Cleveland girls soccer.
“I came to this school and I was like, you know what? Freshman year we are going to make history,” she said. “And honestly, we did for our season. But don't worry, we're going to get there.”
The Cavaliers competed in the first round of the CIF State SoCal Regional Division II playoffs on Tuesday against Garces Memorial, the CIF Central Section Division I runner-up, and came up a little bit short in a 1-0 loss at Taft High School.
Garces' Marcella Giumarra scored on a long ball from the left side 28 minutes into the match.
Cleveland was undeterred, despite the result.
The Cavs started the match strongly and had multiple promising shots within the first 40 minutes, but none were lucky enough to hit the back of the net.
“After the first couple minutes, we discovered that we could play with this team,” Cleveland second-year head coach Greg Ibach said. “We had energy, we had the passion. As the game went on, I think we just got fatigued.”
It's been an exhausting few weeks for Cleveland. The West Valley League runner-up beat El Camino Real for the CIF Los Angeles City Section Division I title on Friday in a match that went to penalty kicks after a playoff run that dealt them a game every other day.
Tuesday marked Cleveland's fourth straight appearance in the CIF SoCal Regional playoffs and second under Ibach, although he's been with the team for five seasons overall in some capacity.
He introduced a style of play that was new to the program when he took over, a way of playing that involved setting up more complicated scoring opportunities as opposed to going for the most direct approach.
“We've always had talent, we've always had speedy girls,” senior goalkeeper Stella Swanson said. “We've always had people who can get around everyone. And now we changed our style of play and I think it was for the better. Sometimes it doesn't work out, but at least we played some pretty soccer.”
The Cavs seem to have formed the right chemistry on the team with a group of returning players who are eager to work. Ramirez was named the offensive MVP of the West Valley League this season and junior defender Alexa Monge, junior forward Naomi Sweeney and sophomore midfielder Miranda Reynoso were all named to the West Valley League first team.
The City Section girls soccer momentum seems to have swung in Cleveland's favor and the Cavs continue to attract talented incoming players. Ibach said he takes immense pride in this season's group, and the pressure of playing in big-time playoff games has further melded them together.
“The next step is we're going to take a few weeks off and we're going to get it going again,” Ibach said. “I expect to be back in the City finals again next year — 100%.”
At halftime of Tuesday's game, Ramirez's voice cut through the chatter of those in the stands and the players in their huddles.
“Let's make history,” she shouted, announcing that the journey isn't over yet for Cleveland girls soccer.
MIYE KODAMA
School: Louisville
Sports: Soccer, basketball Year: Senior
Noteworthy: Kodama won two CIF Southern Section titles over the weekend with the soccer team on Friday and the basketball team on Saturday. She scored a goal in the CIF-SS Division 4 championship soccer game as the Royals beat Monrovia 2-0, and helped the basketball team beat Lakewood, 64-45, in the CIF-SS Division 2A final.