Crean Lutheran soccer team advances to CIF SoCal regional final at home with road win

Saints goalkeeper Brooklynn Acevedo makes a save Thursday evening. (Photos courtesy Ted Rigoni, John Luciano and Howard Lyon).

Crean Lutheran High School’s girls soccer team, which already has captured a CIF championship, the first in school history for the program, gets to bring home another title Saturday night.

The Saints (21-3-3) defeated No. 2 seeded Granada Hills Charter 1-0 on the road Thursday night in the CIF Southern Californa Division IV Regionals to earn a berth in the finals Saturday night at home.

To see the slide show, click on the first photo:

Crean Lutheran players celebrate after the road victory.

Sophia Svoboda of Crean Lutheran advances the ball.

Mia Johnson of Crean Lutheran controls the ball Thursday.

Crean Lutheran's Ana Gwon (left) goes for possession.

Avarie Tierney of Crean Lutheran maintains possession.

Saints Coach Stephen Jennings meets with his players.

Crean Lutheran players celebrate a victory.

The Saints Taylor Hook heads the ball.

Anna Gwon of Crean Lutheran advances the ball.

Malaina Duro of Crean Lutheran maintains control of the ball.

Crean Lutheran players celebrate a victory.

Hannah Montford of Crean Lutheran advances the ball.

It was Crean Lutheran’s seventh shutout of the playoffs and 17th shutout overall. Goalkeeper Brooklynn Acevedo helped clinch the shutout and Delaney Schappert had the goal for the Saints.

On Saturday at 5 p.m. at Crean Lutheran, Coach Stephen Jennings’ Saints will take on Hemet, the team it defeated 1-0 last week to win the CIF Division 5 title. Hemet was the top-seed going into the CIF finals.

The Saints got another home match when Hemet, the No. 5 seed, upset No. 1 El Rancho 4-1. Since Crean Lutheran is the higher seed, the Saints get to play in front of their home fans again.