Sports

Temecula Valley Girls Soccer Heads To State Championships

Temecula Valley High School Division 1 girls soccer team will play at home after beating Los Alamitos at home field.

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The Golden Bears girls soccer players (from left) Kate Jacobsen, Natalie Mitchel, Ella Gessel and Annika Jost wrap Carly Radke in a hug after her first goal against Los Alamitos.
The Golden Bears girls soccer players (from left) Kate Jacobsen, Natalie Mitchel, Ella Gessel and Annika Jost wrap Carly Radke in a hug after her first goal against Los Alamitos. (Courtesy of Scott Padgett/Time Stood Still Photography)

TEMECULA, CA — Temecula Valley High School girls soccer Division 1 program has its eyes on the prize after overcoming another hurdle in the team's 2022 California Interscholastic Federation state championship run.

The Golden Bears defeated Los Alamitos at home Thusday — the team's third victory against the Griffins since December. In so doing, the team retains its top seed in the run for the Southern California soccer championship.

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Junior Jenna Chaput (right) in the CIF Southern California championship semifinals. (Courtesy of Scott Padgett/Time Stood Still Photography)

Temecula Valley first met Los Alamitos at the finals match in the 2021 Best in the West Tournament, in which it took the top prize at the highest level of the tournament with a 2-1 victory.

Midfielder Camryn Vehlow (left) battles for the ball against Los Alamitos. (Courtesy of Scott Padgett/Time Stood Still Photography)

TVHS won in overtime on a golden goal in the team's second meetup in the semifinals game for the CIF-Southern Section Championships. TVHS was awarded a bye for the first round of state playoffs after winning the Southern Section. By luck of the draw, the two teams met again in Thursday's semifinal rematch.

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TVHS midfielder sophomore Annika Jost and senior forward Kate Jacobsen battle with the griffins Thursday. (Courtesy of Scott Padgett/Time Stood Still Photography)

TVHS and Los Alamitos were 0-0 at the half, but some inspirational words and actions on the pitch from the five seniors left a lasting impression on the younger classmen.

TVHS senior Midfielder Peyton Bundy plays Los Alamitos in the semifinal championship match. (Photo: Courtesy Scott Padgett: Time Stood Still Photography).

The seniors laid it on the line throughout the game, bringing energy and chances as the team navigated the tough Los Alamitos defensive line.

Senior Natalie Mitchell breaks free of the Los Alamitos defense in the semifinals of the CIF Southern California championships. (Courtesy of Scott Padgett/Time Stood Still Photography)

In the second half, freshman Carly Radke scored her first hat trick of the season: all three goals in the last 30 minutes of the game.

Freshman Carly Radke tests the Los Alamitos keeper for her first of three goals in the last 30 minutes of the game. (Courtesy of Scott Padgett/Time Stood Still Photography)

Temecula sports photographer Scott Padgett, owner of Time Stood Still Photography, was in the right spot to capture the joy of the game-winning shot.

Freshman Carly Radke makes some noise after shooting her second of three goals in the semifinal match against Los Alamitos. (Courtesy of Scott Padgett/Time Stood Still Photography)

His favorite part of shooting sports in the valley? "Capturing that moment of excitement and the look on their faces," he said.

Freshman Carly Radke completes her first-ever "hat trick" — three goals in a game, against Los Alamitos. (Courtesy of Scott Padgett/Time Stood Still Photography)

The members of the Temecula Valley girls soccer team consider themselves a family on and off the field, according to head coach Jennifer Guinn.

At 5 p.m. Saturday on their home turf, the team will bring it once again against the San Marcos Knights for the right to call themselves state champions.

Watch online or in person. Tickets are still available.

View the entire semifinals match online.

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