The Malibu High School girls’ varsity soccer team defeated Oxford Academy 3-1 on Thursday in the first round of the CIF Southern Section, Division Six playoffs. Samantha Holst started off the game with a quick goal for the Sharks. However, Oxford Academy responded with a goal to tie the score at one at halftime.
In the second half, the Sharks had the advantage of shooting in the goal opposite the setting sun, which partially obstructed the Oxford Academy goalie’s vision. Early in the second half, the Sharks’ Claire Haft stole the ball and passed it to Caysie Beetley, who scored. Beetley scored again later in the second half, securing the victory for Malibu.
“Everybody did their job, and that is why we won,” the Sharks’ senior Jamie Samuel said.
Although the Sharks won the game and scored three goals, the players and coaches felt they should have scored more. Malibu allowed Oxford Academy to cross midfield only four times in the second half as a result of several steals by Claire Haft and Dakota Gross. This gave the Sharks plenty of opportunities to score, but several shots missed the goal.
“We should have been up by three or four at halftime,” Malibu Head Coach John Johnstone said. “We were all over them in the first half, but we could not put them away. Maybe it was nerves for the first playoff game. Every now and then you will have one of those days where the ball will not go in, but you have to keep persevering until one or two of them go in so you win the game.”
The Sharks’ effective defense was instrumental in their victory. Goaltenders Sonja Van Solen and Maddie Clarfield allowed only one goal, with the help of defenders Kelcie Meyer, Jamie Samuel, Coral Silverberg and Gigi Wooller.
“I am really confident in our team,” freshman Coral Silverberg said. “Sonja and Maddie played well in goal, and our defense was on top of our game. But, next time we cannot let them get one goal. We need to be ready to play and more technical.”
The playoff win continues the varsity Sharks’ successful soccer season, during which they had an undefeated (10-0) league record and won their first Frontier League Championship. The Sharks now have a record of (16-5) with two ties overall and have won every home game this season with a total of 84 goals.
The Sharks played the second-round game of the CIF playoffs against Linfield Christian in Temecula last Tuesday. Check next week’s issue of The Malibu Times for a recap.