First published in the Dec. 29 print issue of the Outlook Valley Sun.
The La Cañada High School varsity boys’ soccer team picked up its first win on the pitch this season with a dominant 10-3 victory over visiting Flintridge Prep in its LCHS tournament opener on Monday.
Sophomore Harrison Chant helped carry La Cañada’s offense with a game-high five goals, including three in the second half.
It was a back-and-forth battle as both teams traded goals in the first 20 minutes of the contest. La Cañada senior Isaac Reiter opened the scoring in the sixth minute before Flintridge Prep junior Leo Ferry quickly tied the game 1-1 on a free kick in the 10th.
Chant scored his first of five goals in the 11th minute to give the Spartans a brief 2-1 advantage until Flintridge Prep senior EQ Willis recovered his own free-kick rebound and tied the match 2-2 in the 16th minute.
La Cañada junior Alan Razo scored the go-ahead goal in the 21st. Chant scored the last goal of the opening half in the 29th to help the Spartans extend their lead 4-2. Chant registered a hat trick in the 57th minute to make it 7-3 before adding a pair of goals in the 59th and 69th.
La Cañada junior Donald Le made it 5-2 on a header before junior teammate Jamie Saunders added a pair of goals in the 53rd and 67th minutes.
Meanwhile, junior Rafi Fermanian scored Flintridge Prep’s third and final goal in the 51st.
The Spartans swept pool play with a 4-2 victory over visiting Glendora later on Monday. Chant registered a pair of goals to bring his total to seven on the day while sophomore Armen Kozanian and Reiter each scored one goal.
Following the tournament this week, LCHS (3-6 overall) will open Rio Hondo League action at Blair High in Pasadena on Friday, Jan. 6, at 3:30 p.m. Meanwhile, Flintridge Prep (2-3-1 overall, 0-0-1 in league) will resume Prep League action at Providence High in Burbank on Tuesday, Jan. 10, at 3:30 p.m.
ST. FRANCIS
The Golden Knights have been idle since losing to Loyola High of Los Angeles, 1-0, in a Mission League game on Dec. 16.
SFHS (1-4-1 overall, 0-2 in league) finished competing in the Oceanside tournament today and will resume league action at Alemany High in Mission Hills on Wednesday, Jan. 4, at 5 p.m.
