With the victory, the Eagles (11-2-4), the top seed in the Open Division, advance to the quarterfinal round, which begins Wednesday. They will play the winner of the Millikan-Mira Costa series.

Under the format for the new Open Division, teams play each other in a two-game series, with the cumulative score for both games determining the winner.

After the Eagles and No. 8 seed Lions (13-4-4) played to a scoreless tie in the first of their two-game series on Thursday at Oaks Christian, 4-0 was also the cumulative score for the series.

The Eagles are the reigning CIF-SS Division 1 and Southern California Regional Division I champions and are a series victory away from making its second straight trip to a Southern Section final.

“It’s been a long season so far,” said George, who has signed to play at USC. “I really do think we’re hitting our peak and we’re going stride for stride with really good teams and now it’s just going to be what the forwards can execute because I think our defense has it down.”

Finishing their scoring opportunities was a crucial factor in the victory, and that will continue to the be the case moving forward, George said.

“I came into this game and I was like, I’m going to finish, we need to finish,” the senior said. “I talked to the forwards. I said we have to finish today. Our team is counting on us. We have to put it in the back of the net. And so, I think that was kind of in the back of my mind the whole game, that I can’t let me team down.”

Sophomore Cora Fry scored off of a pass from George to give the Eagles an early 1-0 lead.

That’s how it stayed until the second half when George scored a pair of goals in similar fashion.

On both goals, George was running toward the goal, chasing down the ball, while the goalkeeper left the goal, trying to get to the ball first.

George won the race both times and was able to poke the ball into the net.

Felicity Nguyen scored the Eagles’ fourth goal in the final minutes.

Eagles coach Craig Bull, who is wrapping up his second season at Santa Margarita, also said finishing has been a problem at times this season.

“I actually think a lot more games this year, we’ve been a much better team and not necessarily gotten the result,” Bull said. “Whereas last year we had games where we probably weren’t the better team and we still won. So, I think that this year, the girls have been trying and really doing well and they’ve had a lot of games where we just couldn’t find that finishing touch. Today, we found it.

“They can do that to anyone. We have the ability to beat any team every time we play if we can just put the ball in the back of the net.”

More importantly, the Griffins, the No. 6 seed in the division, defeated the No. 3 Cougars by a cumulative score of 3-1 over their two-game series, and now advance to the quarterfinals round, which begins Wednesday.

Under the format for the new Open Division, each team’s cumulative score for both games is used to determine the winner.

Los Alamitos (16-5-5) defeated the Cougars (18-4-1) 2-1 in their opening-round game Thursday at Los Alamitos.

The Griffins were awarded the free kick when a foul for hand ball inside the box was called against the Cougars.

Prior to the foul, the Griffins’ Victoria Bloch was dribbling the ball along the left side of field and sent a cross pass into the box.

“It’s a great feeling because I know we’ve been working hard since our game at home and this game,” said Zacarias, who had two assists in Thursday’s game to go along with her goal on Saturday. “We’ve been pushing, pushing, pushing. So obviously it’s worth it with all of our hard work. It feels amazing, but we know we have to continue. We know we’re not even close to being done.”

The format will be the same for the next leg, which are the quarterfinal and semifinal rounds.

If the Griffins have a higher cumulative score over the two games, they’ll advance to a division final for the second year in a row. Los Alamitos will face the winner of the No. 7 seed Mater Dei-No. 2 seed Santiago of Corona series.

All three of the Griffins’ goals in the series were scored off set pieces, which included goals off of a corner kick and free kick in the first game and then the penalty kick in the second game.

“We work at a lot of those in practice and they paid dividends,” Los Alamitos coach Pat Rossi said.

With eight starters returning from last season’s team that played in a Southern Section final and a state final, experience was a key factor in the victory, Rossi said.

“There was a big sophomore class last year that are juniors so now they’re upperclassmen,” Rossi said. “They’ve been going to (Southern Section) finals and to state finals. They’re used to these moments.”

Prior to being selected to play in the Open Division for the playoffs, the Cougars and Griffins were ranked No. 5 and No. 6 respectively in Division 1 of the CIF Southern Section.

The teams were squaring off for the first time this season.

“To end up being ranked in the top eight and in the first ever Open Division, I think that is something for us to be very proud of,” Capistrano Valley coach Erick Ornelas said. “Overall, having the record that we had, I think it showed the caliber of players that we had to get here.

“Unfortunately, we just couldn’t get the job done here over the last two games, but the score doesn’t reflect what the game was today. Unfortunately, we just couldn’t get the ball moving.”

The Monarchs (18-1-1), who are the No. 2 seed in the Open Division bracket, are moving on thanks in large part to the play of goalkeeper Brayden McClelland, who made saves on three consecutive penalty kicks, helping the Monarchs win 3-1.

Jake Barak scored two goals for Mater Dei in regulation.

The Monarchs will play No. 3 seed San Clemente on Tuesday after the Tritons eliminated JSerra in their playoff series Friday.

“The main objective for me is just to get in their head,” McClelland said of facing penalty kicks. “I act like I know where they’re going before they know where they’re going. It helped that we looked at some films, so I knew where two of them were already going. So that helped, but one of them, I just totally guessed. I could just tell by the way his body was moving, and I just went for it.”

Under the format for the new Open Division playoffs, teams play each other in the first and second round with the cumulative score for both games used to determine the winner, who then advances to the quarterfinal round.

The No. 7 seed Cavaliers (19-4-1) defeated Mater Dei, 2-1, on Wednesday at Montclair, putting the Monarchs in a situation of having to win by two goals in regulation or win in overtime in their second matchup.

The loss was the first of the season for the Monarchs.

Mater Dei defeated the Cavaliers, 2-1, on Friday, making the cumulative score of the two games 3-3, and forcing overtime.

After two scoreless 10-minute overtime periods, the contest moved to the penalty kick phase.

That’s where McClelland became the hero.

“We took our first loss, so it showed what our boys’ character was like,” Mater Dei coach Sean Ganey said. “It was like, okay, can you rally? Can you show resilience? Can you show character?”

For the first goal, Barak took a pass from C.J. Garcia, dribble down the left sideline, beat a defender, and kicked a bullet into the goal from about 35 yards out.

The Cavaliers then tied the score on a goal from Israel Jiminez.

Three minutes into the second half, Mater Dei’s Avian Gonzalez-Flores set up for a free kick in the center of the field, 50 yards from the goal.

Flores sent a long line drive into the box, where Bark jumped and got enough of his head on the ball to re-direct it over the goalkeeper’s head.

“It feels incredible,” Barak said. “We’ve been working so hard all year. We put our blood, sweat and tears into this team. We all have so much good chemistry. After our first loss, we were really angry to come into this game. We knew we were just a better team in the end.”

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  Abigail Nuez (5) of Los Alamitos and Ella Brinkerhof (9) of Capistrano Valley eye the ball in the opening round of the CIF-SS Open Division girls soccer playoffs at Los Alamitos High School in Los Alamitos on Thursday, Feb. 8, 2024. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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  Viviana Zacarias (7) of Los Alamitos heads the ball over Camden Dershem (23) of Capistrano Valley in the opening round of the CIF-SS Open Division girls soccer playoffs at Los Alamitos High School in Los Alamitos on Thursday, Feb. 8, 2024. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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  Camden Dershem (23), left, of Capistrano Valley celebrates with teammate Abby Haley (7) after Dershem scored a goal against Los Alamitos in the opening round of the CIF-SS Open Division girls soccer playoffs at Los Alamitos High School in Los Alamitos on Thursday, Feb. 8, 2024. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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  Zamorah Malinoski (10) of Los Alamitos kicks the ball past the defense of Maddie Russo (4) of Capistrano Valley in the opening round of the CIF-SS Open Division girls soccer playoffs at Los Alamitos High School in Los Alamitos on Thursday, Feb. 8, 2024. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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  Maddie Russo (4) of Capistrano Valley battles for control of the ball with Natalie Lobo (20) of Los Alamitos in the opening round of the CIF-SS Open Division girls soccer playoffs at Los Alamitos High School in Los Alamitos on Thursday, Feb. 8, 2024. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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  Merlot Healy (11) of Capistrano Valley battles for the ball with Abigail Nuez (5) of Los Alamitos in the opening round of the CIF-SS Open Division girls soccer playoffs at Los Alamitos High School in Los Alamitos on Thursday, Feb. 8, 2024. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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  Natalie Lobo (20) Los Alamitos passes to Zamorah Malinoski (10) in a game against Capistrano Valley in the opening round of the CIF-SS Open Division girls soccer playoffs at Los Alamitos High School in Los Alamitos on Thursday, Feb. 8, 2024. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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  Zamorah Malinoski (10) of Los Alamitos celebrates after scoring in the opening round of the CIF-SS Open Division girls soccer playoffs against Capistrano Valley at Los Alamitos High School in Los Alamitos on Thursday, Feb. 8, 2024. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

LOS ALAMITOS — Sophomore Zamorah Malinoski scored two goals, both on assists from Viviana Zacarias, to lead the Los Alamitos girls soccer team to a 2-1 victory over Capistrano Valley in a CIF SS Open Division first-round game Thursday at Los Alamitos High School.

The Griffins (14-5-5), who are the No. 6 seed in the Open Division bracket, will play the No. 3 seed Cougars (18-2-1) again Saturday at 11 a.m. at Capistrano Valley High School.

Under the format for the new Open Division, each team’s cumulative score for both games is used to determine the winner, who then advances to the quarterfinal round.

If the teams’ cumulative scores result in a tie at the end of regulation Saturday, two 10-minute overtime periods would be played under a golden-goal format. If neither team scores in overtime, penalty kicks would determine the winner.

The Cougars could also advance if they win Saturday’s game by at least two goals.

“Winning the first game at home was super important,” Los Alamitos coach Frank Rossi said.

“We can plan accordingly going into the next round game,” he added. “They have to possibly take more chances and we can adjust as we go.”

Zacarias made perfect passes to set up both goals.

The first goal came off a corner kick that Zacarias sent through the air to the far side of the goal to Malinoski, who headed the ball into the left side of the net, giving the Griffins a 1-0 lead.

“I knew Zamorah was my target,” Zacarias said. “So right when I looked at the goal, I knew where she was and I knew where she was going to run to. So, right when the ball left my foot, I knew it was going right to her. And she had that perfect run to head it in.”

The Cougars tied the score in the 36th minute on a goal from Camden Dershem, which came off a corner kick from Aubrey Perez.

Capistrano Valley kept the pressure on the Griffins for the first several minutes of the second half and almost took the lead on a laser of a kick from Sami Cole that hit the crossbar.

Cougars goalkeeper Alison Craycroft also made a nice stop on a shot from Natalie Lobo.

With six minutes left in the game, the Cougars set up for a free kick and once again it was Zacarias who kicked the ball over a wall of defenders and right to Malinoski, who headed the ball into the net for the eventual winning goal.

“I knew the time, the clock was ticking and we had to get a goal in,” said Malinoski, who leads the team with 13 goals.” So I started to push up. She played me an amazing ball.”

Zacarias had just as much praise for her teammate and said they’ve been practicing these types of set pieces together.

“She is the person I always look for on the field,” Zacarias said. “Right when the ball left my foot, I knew it was going right to her.”

This year’s motto: consistency

“That’s just what we wanted to be all season long,” Titan Dance Coach Jennie Volkert said.

The Titans were indeed consistent, and at the highest level.

The CSUF Dance Team won its 18th National Championship in the Division 1 Jazz competition at the Universal Dance Team Championships, held Jan. 12-14 at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Fla.

CSUF also placed 3rd in the nation for its routine in the Division 1 Pom category.

“We were just so excited,” said Volkert, who has served as head coach since 1997 and has been the coach for all 18 national championship teams. “The competition is really tough, and all the teams are good. And everybody kind of has their own style, and dance is very subjective, so you never know what the judges are going to want. We just stayed focused.”

The competition was tougher in this year’s championship, with the UDA adding a preliminary round for the D1 Jazz category.

More than 30 teams competed in the first round, 20 teams advanced to the semifinal round, and then 10 teams advanced to the final round, which was won by the Titans.

“It was scary going into it knowing we were going to do it three times,” senior co-captain Carissa Hobbs said. “Normally we do it twice. But honestly, going through it three times, when we got to finals, I know we were way more confident stepping on that stage, and we knew what we needed to do because we had already done it two times.”

The road to the championships begins in April when tryouts are held.

This year’s group of potential dancers was the largest and most talented ever, said Volkert, who was herself a Titan cheerleader, performing on the sidelines for CSUF’s last football team in 1992.

Even members of the previous year’s team are required to try out again to make the team.

Once the final cuts are made — never an easy decision — Volkert said, the 21 Titans who make the team attend a few camps over the summer.

The day after Labor Day, practices for the season get underway and are held three days a week.

After Christmas, practices are every day in preparation for the national championships.

Having been part of a national championship team as a sophomore, winning is always special, Hobbs said, but her motivation to be part of the team each year hasn’t only been to win another title.

“We just love each other, and it’s like a family here,” Hobbs said. “So that’s why we keep coming back. Not necessarily because of the winning, but because of the people on the team, our coaches, the environment.”

Balancing practices, academics and a job took some getting used to, freshman dance team member Kennedi Sandidge said.

To be part of a winning team, Sandidge was willing to make the commitment, and support from her teammates and the coaches made the adjustment period easier, she said.

“It was definitely something I haven’t experienced before,” Sandidge said. “I knew that when I wanted to go to college, I wanted to be on a really strong team that had a good reputation and seemed to just be well-rounded. I had looked at old videos of Cal State Fullerton, and they had everything I was looking for. I knew a few girls going into it that are also freshmen, and so it already made it feel like home.”

Senior co-captain Jordan Takai, who was also part of the Titans’ national championship team as a sophomore, said winning a second national title is a great way to cap off her senior year, especially coming off a disappointing team showing during her junior season.

“Because when you feel so defeated last year, and just to come back as a new team, it felt really good,” Takai said.

Titans’ assistant coach Krysten Dorado was also a member of the dance team, from 2010 to 2013, and part of three national championship teams before being asked to come back as a coach.

“It was an incredible opportunity, and especially being a part of the program before, I definitely couldn’t pass it up,” Dorado said. “Jennie has done an amazing job with the dance team, and so to be a part of this is awesome.”

Aside from competing and performing at basketball games, the Titans are also active in the community, reading to children in local elementary schools and participating in toy drives during the holiday season.

Upcoming performances

Thursday, Feb. 29 – Women’s Basketball vs. Long Beach State at 7 p.m.

• Halftime – 3rd Place Pom Routine

Saturday, March 2 – Men’s Basketball vs. UC Santa Barbara at 6 p.m.

• Halftime – National Championship Jazz Routine and Trophy Presentation

The Lions (9-1-7), who are the No. 6 seed in the Open Division playoffs, and Tritons (13-1-3), who are the No. 3 seed, play again Friday at 4:45 p.m. at San Clemente High School.

Under the format for the new Open Division, each team’s cumulative score for both games is used to determine the winner, who then advances to the quarterfinal round.

With JSerra ahead by one goal, the Tritons would need to win by two goals or win in overtime on Friday to defeat the Lions and advance.

If the teams’ cumulative scores are tied at the end of regulation, two 10-minute overtime periods would be played under a golden goal format. If neither team scores in overtime, penalty kicks would determine the winner.

“They brought it today and we brought it,” JSerra coach Erik Kirsch. “I’m proud of the boys, but it’s only half the leg. We still got a half a leg to play. So there’s still a lot of game left. We’re going to go out there to their home and give them just as much as they gave us or more.”

The game was scoreless at halftime although the Tritons controlled most of the action in the first half.

That changed in the second half with the Lions getting off three shots on or near the goal early in the half.

In the 18th minute of the second half, JSerra set up for a free kick along the right sideline 30 yards away from the goal.

Reyes sent the kick into the box and the ball took one bounce then Ozmai headed it into the left side of the goal.

“I was just trying to put the keeper in trouble and whip it in back post,” Reyes said of the kick. “We knew we had runners. Hopefully it would hit someone, maybe one of their players, but it caused trouble.”

Ozmai said the ball couldn’t have been placed any better.

“I’m thinking the momentum is on our side and just keep it up for the team and just keep going,” Ozmai said. “We still have Friday, but to get that goal and get this win is huge.”

Both teams won CIF SS championships last season.

After winning the CIF SS Division 1 title, the Lions went on to capture the CIF Southern California Division I championship.

The Tritons won the CIF SS Division 2 title and advanced to the Southern California Division II championship game.

The Lions and Tritons are among five Orange County teams selected for the Open Division.

The other Open Division games Wednesday:

Godinez lost to No. 1 seed Arlington 4-0;

No. 2 seed Mater Dei lost to Montclair 2-1;

Aliso Niguel lost to No. 4 seed Mira Costa 1-0.

Among the most fulfilling of those opportunities for Darvish, who is in her fourth semester at CSUF, was her participation in the Panetta Congressional Internship Program.

As a Panetta Scholar, Darvish, a criminal justice major, spent the Fall 2023 semester in an 11-week internship in the U.S. House of Representatives in Washington D.C.

The Panetta Institute was founded and is co-directed by Leon Panetta and his wife, Sylvia. Panetta served in several Democratic administrations as Secretary of Defense, director of the CIA and White House Chief of Staff.

As part of the internship, congressional representatives, along with state and local elected officials, taught the interns policy issues related to income inequity, inflation, health care and Middle East politics.

The first two weeks of the internship took place in August at Cal State Monterey Bay, where the interns attended lectures, including lectures given by Panetta himself.

“We were learning all about the government and bipartisanship and basically how things work,” Darvish said. “And then we were sent to D.C.  and spent 11 weeks there working full time for a member of the House of Representatives.”

In Washington, Darvish worked as a legislative intern for U.S. Rep. Salud Carbajal of California’s 24th District, which encompasses portions of San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Ventura counties.

Her duties included preparing and maintaining reports and memos, drafting letters to constituents, organizing messages from constituents, answering phone calls, attending briefings and giving tours of the U.S. Capitol building.

Only 25 students from the CSU system, Santa Clara University, St. Mary’s College of California and Dominican University of California are selected for the internship.

Students’ housing, tuition and travel are funded by the Panetta Institute for Public Policy.

Darvish also drafted and wrote co-sponsored recommendations for the congressman on bills related to voting rights, criminal justice reform, civil rights and LGBTQ rights.

To be considered for the internship, each candidate intern had to have an exemplary scholastic record along with an interest in politics, policy and public service.

Darvish also had to participate in several rounds of interviews with university officials, culminating with an interview with then CSUF President Fram Virjee, who recommended Darvish for the internship.

“I was surrounded by some of the most powerful and important people at Cal State Fullerton,” Darvish said of the interviews. “They were really there just to hear about me and learn about me. I felt supported and uplifted by them.”

In his letter to Darvish informing her of his recommendation, Virjee wrote:

“Sophia, I wish you much success and thank you in advance for aspiring to represent Cal State Fullerton in this very prestigious position. As you know, this is a highly competitive process, and I congratulate you on your outstanding application and interview. I know you will have an amazing experience in this program and am also confident that you will represent CSUF in an outstanding manner.”

Darvish was then interviewed by members of the Panetta Institute.

Before earning the Panetta Congressional Internship, Darvish participated in a fellowship with the Progressive Turnout Project, which focuses its efforts on mobilizing the Democratic Party and motivating Democrats to exercise their right to vote.

Darvish also completed an internship with U.S. Representative and CSUF alum Lou Correa, D-Anaheim, where she was the first line of communication with constituents and assisted with casework updates and directing calls to appropriate resources.

“I just try to apply to anything and everything that piques my interest, and hopefully I can do a better interview with that job or other internships,” she said.

As the daughter of Iranian immigrants, Darvish began taking an interest in public affairs and government while a student at nearby El Dorado High School, where she was involved with several campus clubs.

Darvish was a member of ASB and participated in Mock Trial and in the ED Law Academy, where students received a primer on the legal profession through coursework and in-person meetings with attorneys and judges.

“I was always listening to podcasts and reading up on the news,” Darvish said. “So, I think that’s what made me so engaged, especially my experiences in high school impacted my interest in the whole field.”

She became more impassioned with criminal justice reform from reading two books: “Just Mercy” by Bryan Stevenson and “The New Jim Crow” by Michelle Alexander.

Both titles deal with injustices in the criminal justice system.

“Those two books got me even more interested in criminal justice … in the whole process,” Darvish said. “It’s such a real-world thing. You really have the opportunity to make a difference in people’s lives.”

The three teams took the court at Marina High School on Friday to determine which of them would get the second-place spot and earn the automatic playoff berth that comes with it.

That team was Edison, which defeated Fountain Valley 68-53 to lock up second place and know that it’s headed for the CIF-SS Division1 playoffs.

Derek Johnson led the Chargers (21-8, 2-4) with 24 points, including three 3-pointers, and Dane Johnson finished with 15 points, all coming in the paint.

“Derek controlled the game,” Edison coach Rich Boyce said. “He did an amazing job and Dane controlled the game down low.”

The Barons (17-13, 2-4) finish third in league and will be considered for an at-large playoff berth in Division 2AA, where they are ranked No. 10.

Fountain Valley defeated Newport Harbor 63-59 in the first game of the tiebreaker doubleheader Friday at Marina.

The Sailors finish in fourth place and will look to be selected for an at-large playoff berth in Division 2A, where they are ranked No. 4.

In the first game Friday, the Barons trailed by 12 points at the half, came back to take the lead in the fourth, fell behind again and then came back a second time, taking the lead for good.

Aaron De Santiago (25 points) and Devin Payne (20 points) led the Barons to the win.

Jack Berry led the Sailors with 24 points.

By winning a coin flip Thursday, the Chargers had the advantage of playing just one game Friday. They waited for the outcome of the contest between Fountain Valley and the Sailors (22-7, 2-4).

The Barons, meanwhile, wound up playing three games in 24 hours, including back-to-back games against the Sailors.

Newport Harbor defeated Fountain Valley 77-62 on Thursday, setting up Friday’s tiebreaker.

“It’s tough for them,” Boyce said of the Sailors. “Kudos to Fountain Valley. They played their butts off for three games. It’s a tough situation.”

Fountain Valley coach Josh Beaty said his team displayed character, having to come right back to play Newport Harbor after being beaten by the Sailors the night before.

The Barons defeated the Sailors in two of their three meetings this season.

Beaty thinks the Barons have an excellent chance to be selected for an at-large playoff berth.

“At the end of the day it was a positive for us,” Beaty said. “Because Newport Harbor, to play them last night and then to come back in less than 24 hours and to beat them … It’s remarkable. So that’s what I’ll take away from it.”

Los Alamitos (23-5, 6-0) finished first in the Surf League and advances to the playoffs in Division 1, where the Griffins are ranked No.15.

Fountain Valley and Edison are ranked No.15 and 16, respectively, in Orange County.

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  Foothill’s Jordan Martin, center, muscles his way past Canyon’s Kyden Patterson, left, in a Crestview League basketball game in Anaheim on Thursday, Feb. 1, 2024. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)

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  Canyon’s Staf Yilmazturk, scores a basket against Foothill in a Crestview League basketball game in Anaheim on Thursday, Feb. 1, 2024. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)

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  Foothill’s Kai Nixon, left, and Canyon’s Zach Cutler fight for the rebound in a Crestview League basketball game in Anaheim on Thursday, Feb. 1, 2024. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)

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  Foothill’s Mansur McClain, left, takes a shot in front of Canyon’s Josh Goodall in a Crestview League basketball game in Anaheim on Thursday, Feb. 1, 2024. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)

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  Canyon’s Jeremy Loreto, center, takes a jumper over Foothill’s Isaiah Bernard in a Crestview League basketball game in Anaheim on Thursday, Feb. 1, 2024. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)

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  Foothill’s Danny Kennard takes shot over a Canyon defender in a Crestview League basketball game in Anaheim on Thursday, Feb. 1, 2024. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)

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  Canyon’s Josh Goodall, right, passes the ball when he can’t get by Foothill’s Danny Kennard, left, in a Crestview League basketball game in Anaheim on Thursday, Feb. 1, 2024. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)

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  Foothill’s Mansur McClain, left, and Isaiah Bernard, left, are all smiles after winning the Crestview League basketball game against Canyon in Anaheim on Thursday, Feb. 1, 2024. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)

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  Foothill’s Danny Kennard, left, reaches for rebound over Canyon’s Zach Cutler in a Crestview League basketball game in Anaheim on Thursday, Feb. 1, 2024. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)

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  Foothill’s Isaiah Bernard puts up a shot against Canyon in a Crestview League basketball game in Anaheim on Thursday, Feb. 1, 2024. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)

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  Canyon’s Kyden Patterson, right, tips the rebound away from Foothill’s Isaiah Bernard in a Crestview League basketball game in Anaheim on Thursday, Feb. 1, 2024. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)

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  Foothill’s Lorenzo Turner lets out a yell to celebrate as the Knights defeat Canyon in a Crestview League basketball game in Anaheim on Thursday, Feb. 1, 2024. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)

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  Foothill’s Isaiah Bernard, center, gets squeezed out by Canyon’s Staf Yilmazturk, left, and Pierce Haugen, left, in a Crestview League basketball game in Anaheim on Thursday, Feb. 1, 2024. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)

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  Canyon’s Josh Goodall, left, makes a move around Foothill’s Danny Kennard to score a basket in a Crestview League basketball game in Anaheim on Thursday, Feb. 1, 2024. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)

ANAHEIM — Consistent scoring for four quarters from Travis Paleo and a spectacular third quarter from Mansur McClain were the difference in Foothill’s 69-58 victory over Canyon in the Crestview League finale for both teams Thursday at Canyon High School.

The Knights (20-8, 6-0), who are ranked No. 5 in Orange County, had already clinched a share of first place going into the contest and captured the league title outright with the victory over the No. 12 Comanches (21-7, 4-2), who finished in second place.

Foothill won both games against Canyon and snapped the Comanches’ six-year run as either league champions or co-league champions.

Both squads advance to the CIF SS Division 1 playoffs. The brackets will be released Sunday.

Canyon stayed within a possession or two for most of the fourth quarter until Foothill pulled away down the stretch.

“No matter what the game situation is, preseason, postseason, league championship, it’s always a tough game,” Foothill coach Yousof Etemadi said. “We were prepared, they were prepared, and this is the beauty of high school basketball.”

Paleo hit three 3-pointers in the first quarter, two 3-pointers in the fourth quarter and finished with a game-high 23 points.

After going scoreless in the first half, McClain scored 15 in the third quarter and finished with 22 points.

McClain acknowledged being more of a “go-to-the-rim guy,” but hit three 3-pointers in the third and had four for the game.

“But if they leave me open, I’ll knock them down,” the junior said. “In this game we just all felt good energy and we played together, and we did well. We shared the ball, and that’s why we all excelled.”

Both teams scored 21 points in an up-tempo third quarter in which highlight-reel type shots were made on both ends of the court.

On consecutive possessions late in the quarter, Canyon’s Josh Goodall, who led the Comanches with 17 points, incorporated a spin move to get past a defender on a driving layup, and then made an under-handed layup to avoid a defender on the following possession.

“Our kids played great,” Canyon coach Nate Harrison said. “I thought we played about as well as we could play and just give credit to Foothill. Mansur had 23 points in the second half. When a kid does that, you just tip your hat.”

Canyon trailed by three going into the fourth quarter and had opportunities to tie the score or get within a point on two different possessions.

But the Comanches turned the ball over on one of those possessions and missed a shot on the second opportunity.

Both times, Foothill responded with baskets to push the lead back up to two possessions.

“They hit big shots,” Harrison said. “(McClain) made every shot he took. When that happens, it’s hard to win a game.”

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  Edison players pose for a team photo after defeating Corona del Mar 5-0 in a Wave League game at Edison High on Wednesday Jan. 31, 2024. (Photo by Michael Kitada, Contributing Photographer)

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  Edison players celebrate after defeating Corona del Mar 5-0 in a Wave League game at Edison High on Wednesday Jan. 31, 2024. (Photo by Michael Kitada, Contributing Photographer)

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  Edison’s Olivia Green, second from left, celebrates with teammate, Riley Crooks, third from left, after scoring one of three first period goals by Edison during the game between Corona del Mar vs. Edison in a Wave League game at Edison High on Wednesday Jan. 31, 2024. (Photo by Michael Kitada, Contributing Photographer)

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  Edison’s Olivia Green, left, Riley Crooks, center, and Harlee Thomas, right, celebrate the first goal in their game between Corona del Mar vs. Edison in a Wave League game at Edison High on Wednesday Jan. 31, 2024. (Photo by Michael Kitada, Contributing Photographer)

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  Edison’s Claire Whitcher, right, attempts to control the ball against Corona del Marxe2x80x99s Peyton Vovan, left, during their game between Corona del Mar vs. Edison in a Wave League game at Edison High on Wednesday Jan. 31, 2024. (Photo by Michael Kitada, Contributing Photographer)

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  Edison’s Harlee Thomas, right, battles for the ball with Corona del Marxe2x80x99s Kayla Spreen, right, in a game between vs. Edison in a Wave League game at Edison High on Wednesday Jan. 31, 2024. (Photo by Michael Kitada, Contributing Photographer)

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  Edison’s Claire Whitcher runs to the ball during the game between Corona del Mar vs. Edison in a Wave League game at Edison High on Wednesday Jan. 31, 2024. (Photo by Michael Kitada, Contributing Photographer)

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  Edison’s Morgan Bonnevie, left, focuses on the ball during the game between Corona del Mar vs. Edison in a Wave League game at Edison High on Wednesday Jan. 31, 2024. (Photo by Michael Kitada, Contributing Photographer)

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  Edison’s Caley Troung, right, celebrates with teammates after defeating Coronal del Mar 5-0 in a Wave League game at Edison High on Wednesday Jan. 31, 2024. (Photo by Michael Kitada, Contributing Photographer)

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  Edison’s Harlee Thomas, is lifted up by Hailey Clingan after she scored during the game between Corona del Mar vs. Edison in a Wave League game at Edison High on Wednesday Jan. 31, 2024. (Photo by Michael Kitada, Contributing Photographer)

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  Corona del Mar’s Logan Stern, right, battles with Edisonxe2x80x99s Jayden Rodriguez, left, during the game between Corona del Mar vs. Edison in a Wave League game at Edison High on Wednesday Jan. 31, 2024. (Photo by Michael Kitada, Contributing Photographer)

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  Edison’s Emily Whitcher, center, celebrates with her teammates after scoring during the game between Corona del Mar vs. Edison in a Wave League game at Edison High on Wednesday Jan. 31, 2024. (Photo by Michael Kitada, Contributing Photographer)

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  Edison’s Claire Whitcher keeps her eye on the ball during the game between Corona del Mar vs. Edison in a Wave League game at Edison High on Wednesday Jan. 31, 2024. (Photo by Michael Kitada, Contributing Photographer)

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  Edison’s Mia Rickard, left, blocks a shot in front of the goal during the game between Corona del Mar vs. Edison in a Wave League game at Edison High on Wednesday Jan. 31, 2024. (Photo by Michael Kitada, Contributing Photographer)

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  Corona del Mar’s Tessa Anderson dribbles past an Edison defender during the game between Corona del Mar vs. Edison in a Wave League game at Edison High on Wednesday Jan. 31, 2024. (Photo by Michael Kitada, Contributing Photographer)

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  Edison’s Avery Lundquist, right, heads the ball off a goal kick as Coronal del Marxe2x80x99s, Grace Audiss, left, defends in the game between Corona del Mar vs. Edison in a Wave League game at Edison High on Wednesday Jan. 31, 2024. (Photo by Michael Kitada, Contributing Photographer)

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  Edison’s Nicole Connor, right, leaps in the air as Riley Crooks, left, poses after scoring in the first half of the game between Corona del Mar vs. Edison in a Wave League game at Edison High on Wednesday Jan. 31, 2024. (Photo by Michael Kitada, Contributing Photographer)

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  Edison’s Chloe Pajaro, center, deflects a shot on goal during the game between Corona del Mar vs. Edison in a Wave League game at Edison High on Wednesday Jan. 31, 2024. (Photo by Michael Kitada, Contributing Photographer)

HUNTINGTON BEACH — The Wave League girls soccer finale between Corona del Mar and Edison on Wednesday was only about five minutes old when the Chargers gave a strong indication of how the contest would play out.

The Chargers scored two goals about a minute apart in the opening minutes and rolled on to a 5-0 victory over the Sea Kings at Edison High School.

With the victory, Edison (15-6-2, 5-1) avenged its 4-3 loss to the Sea Kings (12-7-2, 4-1-1) in the teams’ first meeting on Jan. 16. More importantly, it gave the Chargers the Wave League championship.

Edison and the Sea Kings will both advance to the CIF-SS Division 1 playoffs. The Chargers will go in as the league’s first-place team and will likely get a home game in the first round.

Neither team is ranked among the top 10 in the division but both are listed with “others.”

The playoff pairings will be released Saturday morning.

The Charges, who are ranked No. 7 in Orange County, came into the contest in second place. A tie wouldn’t have helped them in the standings.

The Chargers needed a victory.

“They were pumped,” Edison coach Kerry Crooks said of her team. “We felt we gave them the game last time we played them. So obviously we talked about that, because we made mistakes and we didn’t come out how we should have.

“We changed our formation a little bit, probably about five games ago. We just needed some time for some of my younger players to kind of get used to the pace of the game and they finally did.”

The formation change also helped Edison notch shutouts in five consecutive games, Crooks said, including the shutout of the Sea Kings, who scored four goals in their first meeting with the Chargers.

“Definitely our midfield and our defense and our keepers all stepped up,” said Olivia Green, who factored in to the Chargers’ first two goals. “They’ve been working hard at practice, too. I know they just wanted to keep those shutouts and change things from the last time we played them.”

Riley Crooks scored the Chargers’ first goal off of a pass from Green.

About a minute later, Green dribbled the ball downfield, got a good look and scored from about 25 yards out.

“Olivia Green has been on fire,” coach Kerry Crooks said. “She has just been very, very dominant.”

Edison’s third goal came off a long pass up field from Riley Crooks to Emily Whitcher, who scored on a perfectly placed, high-arcing kick over the goal keeper and into the net.

Harlee Thomas scored from 45 yards out on a line-drive kick that curved into the upper, left corner of the goal, making the score 4-0.

Claire Whitcher scored from a wide angle for the Chargers’ fifth and final goal.

“I’m hyped for my team and I’m excited because now we go to CIF as first-place champs,” Green said.