PHOTOS: Second half goal and strong defense helps Crean Lutheran capture first CIF title

Crean Lutheran players and coaches celebrate after winning the CIF title. (Photos courtesy Crean Lutheran Shutterbugs, Ted Rigoni , John Luciano and Howard Lyon).

Crean Lutheran High School’s girls soccer team, inspired by hundreds of supporters, used a second half goal to make history Saturday night at the Saints on-campus stadium.

Third-seeded Crean Lutheran upset top-seeded Hemet 1-0 in the CIF Division 5 finals to earn the first CIF girls soccer title for the program.

Sophomore Malaina Duro got the goal in the 27th minute of the second half for the Saints, who were able to thwart numerous scoring opportunites in the final 10 minutes, led by goalkeeper Brooklyn Acevedo.

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

Crean Lutheran players celebrate after winning the CIF title.

Players celebrate with Coach Stephen Jennings. In the background is Athletic Director Eric Olson.

Crean Lutheran players celebrate the CIF title.

Mia Johnson of Crean Lutheran pushes the ball Saturday night.

Malaina Duro of Crean Lutheran advances the ball. She had the only goal of the game.

Crean Lutheran players celebrate the only goal of the game.

Rebecca McCoy of Crean Lutheran advances the ball.

Crean Lutheran players celebrate as the clock winds down.

Rebecca McCoy of Crean Lutheran tries to advance the ball.

Crean Lutheran goalkeeper Brooklyn Acevedo makes a stop. No. 17 is Hannah Montford.

Crean Lutheran celebrates the win over Hemet.

As the rain falls, Crean Lutheran's Hannah Hyepock tries to advance the ball.

Crean Lutheran goalkeeper Brooklyn Acevedo makes a save.

Coach Stephen Jennings holds the CIF championship plaque.

There were clear skies for the first half, but there was a downpour for about the first 10 minutes of the second half. Both teams battled in the rain and cold temperatures which dropped to 44 degrees in the second half. But Crean Lutheran’s defense set the tone of the match. Crean Lutheran has allowed only one goal through the whole playoff run.

The Saints (19-3-3) notched five shutouts, including one in the wild card match.

“Tonight was an unbelievable night,” said Crean Lutheran Coach Stephen Jennings. “At times, finals don’t always look pretty. Hemet is an unbelievably tough oppponent and they really gave it to us tonight. They were tough, they battled. Our girls stuck it out, they battled and they kept going.

“Sometimes goals like that just pop our way. This whole entire tournament, it’s been like that. That’s how you win championships, they’ve done an amazing job. It’s an unbelievable group that is just so dedicated to one another. This school, the coaching staff behind me, I couldn’t do it without them. I’m just a piece of what’s been happening.”

It was Crean Lutheran’s second appearance in the CIF finals. The Saints lost to Viewpoint in the Division 5 final in 2017, 2-0 under Jennings.

“It definitely is a very good feeling to get a championship,” the coach said. “At the same time, winning is not everything and we play for a different purpose, we play for God and we play for each other and we’re in this to love one another and that’s what it says on the back of our training shirts.”

Duro, who scored the game-winner, was among the Saints celebrating on the field with students and family members.

“Honestly, it was super fun,” said Duro. “It was amazing having all my classmates here cheering me. I felt I was in the right place at the right time and I feel thanks to God it all worked out. It’s super exciting, I’m proud of my team.”

Both teams advance to the Southern California regionals next week.

—Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone; timburt@ocsportszone.com