There will be no CIF Championship repeat for the Malibu High School varsity girls soccer team, as they were trounced from the playoffs with a 1-5 loss to Santa Monica High School on Feb. 17.
After winning the CIF title last season, the girls were moved up from the Frontier League to the Tri-Valley League, and moved up a division as well. After winning the Frontier League handily last year, the girls placed third in the Tri-Valley League behind Oaks Christian and Santa Paula.
The girls lost a number of seniors from last year’s team but were still able to find success in their new league because of a solid core group of players as well as a number of new freshmen talent. Another reason for the team’s continued success, despite the increased level of competition, is the stability of their coaching. Coaches John Johnstone and Lloyd Kinnear led the team throughout the season and made sure they focused and prepared for every game.
Following the girls’ final regular season game against Saint Bonaventure (a 1-2 loss), the girls’ 11-8-1 record (7-4-1 in league) was enough to get them into the playoffs and netted them a first-round match-up against Santa Monica High School, who won the Ocean League. The Sharks traveled to Santa Monica to face the Vikings in the first round of the Division 4A playoffs.
The girls began the game with a largely defensive battle, as both teams struggled. However, the Vikings were finally able to penetrate the Sharks’ defense and scored two goals by the conclusion of the first half. During the second half, the story was similar, as the Vikings added another three goals on the Sharks. However, the Sharks were able to score one goal by the end of the game, making the final score 1-5 in favor of the Vikings.
While the Sharks were not able to repeat this season as League or CIF champions, they can take solace in the fact that they will return a large number of their starters to the team next season. While seniors Claire Kiefer, Gigi Wooler, Ashtin Miller, and Raynielle Collins will be gone, the girls still have a core group of juniors, sophomores, and freshmen. This group includes juniors Kristiana Konkol, who led the Sharks in goals this season, goalie Maddie Clarfield and Paige Stoker, who led the team in assists.