PHOTOS: Crean Lutheran outlasts La Habra in CIF second round Division 3 playoff match

Crean Lutheran players celebrate after Friday’s victory. (Photos courtesy Crean Lutheran Shutterbugs, Ted Rigoni).

Crean Lutheran High School’s girls soccer team defeated La Habra in penalty kicks Friday evening in a second round match to advance into the quarterfinal round of the CIF Division 3 playoffs at home Tuesday vs. Foothill.

The match was tied 0-0 after regulation. The Saints eventually won on penalty kicks 4-3.

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

Crean Lutheran's Mia Johnson (No. 9) and Mary Kate Duberow battle for the ball.

Crean Lutheran players celebrate a goal.

Goalkeeper Kate Nourse of Crean Lutheran celebrates the win.

Crean Lutheran players apply defensive pressure vs. La Habra.

Crean Lutheran players Ally Hamiprodjo (No. 6) and Sara Kwon celebrate after Kwon's goal in the shootout.

Ally Schmida of Crean Lutheran battles a La Habra player for possession.

Kate Nourse of Crean Lutheran makes a save during the shootout.

“We played one of the toughest schedules in preseason playing some of the top teams in the Southern Section,” said Saints Coach Stephen Jennings. “I believe that this has help us know who we are and what we can do this year.

“Last night’s game was a hard fought game by both teams. They both gave it their all to the very end. That was the third time we’ve had to play La Habra in a month. Never easy to beat a team that good three times. Our girls showed great determination and grit and stuck together until the end.

“Sophomore Kate Nourse showed her amazing talents throughout the game and in the penalty shootout. She saved two PK‘s and made one herself.”

Crean Lutheran had some chances in regulation. 

“We definitely made it a little harder on ourselves by not finishing the 10 chances we had,” Jennings said. “We hit the crossbar four times and continued to shoot it right at the keeper. As fatigue set in late into the second overtime the girls never gave up. I saw a belief in the girls last night I haven’t seen before, and I knew that game was eventually going to end in our favor.

“We look forward to continuing the run on Tuesday at home vs. another really good team in Foothill High School.”