Run Ends for Pirates' Soccer Squad

The Animo Venice Charter High girls' soccer team lost to Northridge Academy, 1-0, in the semifinals of the City Section Small School Division playoffs on Tuesday at Monroe High in North Hills.

The fourth-seeded Pirates (12-2-1) surrendered a first-half goal and were unable to produce the equalizer against the top-seeded Panthers (15-3), who won their eighth in a row and remained unscored upon in the playoffs.  

Animo Venice, which won the Ocean League title under first-year coach Johnny Alcaraz, had its 10-game winning streak snapped. The Pirates had eliminated Cudahy Elizabeth Learning Center 6-2 in the first round of the playoffs and shut out Van Nuys Fulton College Prep 3-0 in the quarterfinals. 

Northridge Academy will play second-seeded Los Angeles Center for Enriched Studies in the championship game Friday at Miguel Contreras Learning Center.