Great Oak girls soccer, who were ranked as high as #6 in the state and #15 in the nation (maxpreps.com), were eliminated in the semifinals round of the CIF Southern Section Division 2 championships. This is the furthest a Great Oak girls soccer team has been in CIF playoffs.

The Wolfpack team won the Southwestern League title with an 8-0-2 record. They defeated La Habra 2-0 in the first round with goals by Steph Mahlerbe and Miranda Schulz. Sarah Victor had six saves.

In the second round, Redondo Union played the Wolfpack to a 0-0 tie at the end of regulation and two golden goal overtime periods. Great Oak won 19-18 on penalty kicks. Victor was credited with eight saves and two key penalty kick blocks.

The victory put them into the quarterfinals round against Chino Hills. The marathon game ended in a 3-2 Wolfpack victory and the team’s first-ever semifinals appearance. Chloe Amaradio headed in a Mikayla Brillon pass for the first goal; Mahlerbe assisted Schulz for a second Wolfpack score; and Schulz bounced one in from 35 yards out for the final goal. Victor had 17 saves.

In the CIF-SS Division 2 semifinal, Great Oak took advantage of travel-weary #3-seed Wilson (Long Beach) and led 2-0 at the break. The first goal was Brillon to Amaradio for the header; Amaradio followed up a Brillon 25-yd shot to the crossbar for the second score.

Wilson senior Claire Oates headed in a throw-in for their first score, 2-1. Great Oak’s Schulz scored on a penalty kick, 3-1 for the second two-point lead of the night. Oates responded with a score down the middle and under Victor, 3-2. The game was tied at 3-3 on a penalty kick (back-pass).

Wilson’s goalkeeper came up with three saves in overtime to reach the penalty kick shoot-out.

Wilson scored on all five to win the game and advance into the finals.