Final 12 months’s theme for the Orange Lutheran flag soccer group was “Set the Standard.”
The Lancers did simply that, ending 23-2 and defeating Newport Harbor 20-18 to win the inaugural Southern Part Division 1 title and safe the No. 1 rating in California.
Coach Kristen Sherman revealed this season’s theme is “Raise the Bar” and, having graduated just one starter, it seems like her group might be even higher than a 12 months in the past. It could need to be if it needs to defend its crown because the expertise all through the Southland is deeper than ever.
“We’re hoping to reach a higher level this year,” mentioned Sherman, whose husband, Rod, is head coach of Orange Lutheran’s soccer squad. “These new rules change a lot. I may have preferred the old rules, but the girls like punting and returning, so I think it’ll be more fun for them.”
Since defensive gamers will now be capable of line up six yards nearer to the ball, an elite quarterback might be important, and the Lancers have the most effective in Makena Prepare dinner, the reigning CIF participant of the 12 months. On Aug. 6, the two-sport athlete dedicated to Georgia for soccer, however her focus proper now’s on a repeat.
“We’re definitely better … but it’s a clean slate,” Prepare dinner mentioned after tossing six landing passes in opposition to host Lengthy Seashore Poly in a scrimmage Thursday — her first aggressive recreation since November.
As a sophomore final season, Prepare dinner handed for six,611 yards and 97 touchdowns, 20 of them caught by All-CIF receiver Julia Oberholtzer (now a senior) who additionally led the protection with 114 flag pulls and eight interceptions.
The Lancers open the season Wednesday at Woodbridge. Sherman as soon as once more stuffed the schedule with high quality opponents, together with a Sept. 4 conflict with Irvine Northwood, which took the Division 2 title final fall because of Natalie Keith, who earned division participant of the 12 months honors after throwing for 5 touchdowns within the last in opposition to Trabuco Hills.
Sherman predicted Trinity League competitors might be a “smack in the face.”
Makena Prepare dinner led Orange Lutheran to the 2024 Southern Part Division 1 title.
(Steve Galluzzo / For The Instances)
JSerra’s roster options three incoming freshmen who’re members of the 15U junior nationwide group — quarterback Katherine Meier and broad receiver/defensive backs Tessa Russell and Ava Irwin.
Kendra Hansen might be a scoring risk each time she touches the ball for Mater Dei, and operating the offense at Santa Margarita might be All-CIF senior Madi Lam, who quarterbacked her Conquer Chargers membership group on the NFL Flag Championships in Canton, Ohio, in July.
Division 1 finalist Newport Harbor graduated All-CIF quarterback Maia Helmar, however sophomore Scarlett Guyser will take over the place. Cooper Dick (a Texas Tech soccer commit) and Maddy Michel are set to be her main targets. Skylie Cid led the group in touchdowns as a freshman. The Sailors beat Orange Lutheran in triple time beyond regulation in a event at Beckman over the summer time, however Prepare dinner didn’t play.
Ventura’s Ava Ortman passes in apply. Ortman threw for six,974 yards and 110 touchdowns whereas posting a 141.2 quarterback score in 2024.
(Steve Galluzzo / For The Instances)
Huntington Seashore has all of the offensive firepower it must problem Newport Harbor for Sundown League supremacy with the return of Roxie Shaia, who threw for 7,465 yards and 99 touchdowns in 2024, and receiver/security Taylor Savage, who racked up 1,491 receiving yards.
Final fall, Ventura misplaced a shootout to Huntington Seashore within the Division 1 quarterfinals, however the Cougars may trip the arm of senior Ava Ortman to a deeper playoff run in 2025. Statistically, she was the most effective within the part with 6,974 yards, 110 touchdowns and a 141.2 score. In its opener Thursday, Ventura takes on Camarillo, which has one of many prime two-way gamers in Ventura County in Stella Alessi (41 touchdowns and 14 interceptions final season).
Lengthy Seashore Poly will search to three-peat within the Moore League, however it is going to be a taller activity with out All-CIF quarterback Kenzie Paimany, who tore her anterior cruciate ligament taking part in soccer. She threw for 60 touchdowns final 12 months. Essentially the most versatile participant for the Jackrabbits is senior receiver/linebacker Ki’ele Ho-Ching, who has dedicated to Oklahoma for softball.
“We’re hoping she can come back towards the end of the season,” Poly coach Rob Shock mentioned about Paimany. “We take every game as a tough game. Nothing’s given, everything’s earned.”
Lakewood St. Joseph’s Lexi Loya led the group to a 22-1 document and the Santa Fe League crown in 2024.
(Steve Galluzzo / For The Instances)
Lakewood St. Joseph suffered just one defeat in 22 video games final 12 months, nevertheless, the Jesters are poised to go additional with junior signal-caller Lexi Loya (5,377 yards and 73 touchdowns final fall) throwing to sophomore receiver Jaclyn Brennan (76 catches for 985 yards and 16 touchdowns).
The Metropolis Part is as much as 93 groups, and the one to beat seems to be Narbonne, led by its All-Metropolis two-wayers Religion Ugoje, Shayla Rivera and Luna Orozco.
The Gauchos beat King/Drew 7-0 for the Division I title final 12 months and twice defeated the 2024 Open Division winner Banning in the summertime. Ugoje was chosen Division I participant of the 12 months after dashing for 1,660 yards, catching 60 passes for 828 yards and scoring 23 touchdowns as a freshman below Metropolis coach of the 12 months Sherrelle Holmes.
Additionally contending for the Marine League crown might be is two-time Open finalist San Pedro.
Groups to look at: Orange Lutheran, JSerra, Santa Margarita, Newport Harbor, Mater Dei, Huntington Seashore, Northwood, Eastvale Roosevelt, Ventura, Narbonne, Lakewood St. Joseph, Aliso Niguel, Trabuco Hills, Anaheim Canyon.
