GIRLS SOCCER: SHP Ousted by Live Oak

The Score: Live Oak 2, SHP 1.

The Star: Sacred Heart Prep senior Geena Graumann flourished in her team’s season-ending defeat in the Central Coast Section Division III semifinals at Valley Christian High. The offensive center midfielder showcased why she will play for USC next year – scoring the tying goal in about the 50^th minute and displaying her usual fantastic work rate up and down the field on Tuesday night.

The Turning Point: A golden opportunity for the go-ahead goal with about 10 minutes left that No. 3 seed Sacred Heart Prep couldn’t quite convert. After the initial Gator shot deflected off a defender, SHP left midfielder Nicole Quilliam had a good look with Live Oak’s goalie out of position, but her shot was stopped at the goal line by an Acorns field player. Second-seeded Live Oak made the most of surviving the scare – scoring the eventual game-winner in the 75^th minute.

The Quote: “They’ve been special as a class. They’ve basically defined Sacred Heart Prep soccer. Three years ago was the first time we made it to CCS. … They set the real groundwork for a successful soccer program. … And next year, we’ll have at least three players playing Division I soccer who were Gators. --- SHP coach Jake Moffat, on a decorated senior class that battled in the West Catholic Athletic League as freshmen, won the program’s first CCS title in 2009 and collected three West Bay Athletic League Foothill Division titles while going 27-1-4 in league games in ’09-11. The group includes four-year players in Abby Dahlkemper (UCLA), Lauren Espeseth, Gianna Capovilla and Graumann, as well as Sophia Abuel-Saud.

What’s Next? Sacred Heart Prep’s season is finished.

The Bottom Line: Despite lacking the services of Dahlkemper, who is with the U.S. U-20 women’s national team in Spain, SHP nearly topped a physical and talented opponent. ... The Gators (14-5-3) likely would be playing for the program’s second CCS title on Saturday if they played the opening half against Live Oak (13-3-6) as well as they did the second half. ... SHP, No. 10 in , weathered some dangerous threats in a shaky start but fell in a 1-0 hole on an unstoppable shot from distance midway through the first period. A tactical change that moved sweeper Stephanie Terpening to center midfielder made all the difference for the Gators as they began to control much more of the action. ... The thrilling finale and altogether exciting game was certainly worthy of a semifinal. ... With Dahlkemper in action, SHP streaked to a CCS crown two years ago. But with the star called away for national team duty, the Gators suffered close losses in the semifinals this year and last.