Saturday’s dreary skies were appropriate for the Saint Monica athletics program, as both the school’s girls basketball and girls soccer squads were stopped in the semi-finals of their respective California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) Southern Section championship brackets.
In a morning contest, the previously-undefeated Mariners girls soccer unit was bested by Maranatha, 3-2, ending a 20-game winning streak in the CIF-SS Division 7 semi-finals. The Minutemen from Pasadena matched a season-high of goals scored against the Mariners, matching totals from the Mariners’ 4-3 win against Notre Dame Academy on Dec. 6, 2023, and a 4-3 victory against Cantwell-Sacred Heart of Mary on Jan. 13. The team’s defense was outstanding throughout the campaign, as those three contests counted for 9 of the 14 total goals scored against the Mariners in 2023-24.
Despite the disappointing loss, the squad’s 20-1 season was a boon for Saint Monica’s.
"Everybody [was] really excited and encouraging, and we try to give all of our teams the same sort of attention and accolades, but when a team really [rose] like this, they clearly [had] a special year, I think people really [got] excited about it," Saint Monica Athletic Director Jason Bowers said of the squad during the playoff run. "I think it’s been fun to see the community get excited for this group of girls."
Later in the day, the Mariners girls basketball team hosted St. Margaret’s in the CIF-SS Division 3A semifinal, dropping the contest 49-41 despite a rousing fourth quarter comeback attempt. The squad kept the game close throughout the first half, trading three-point bombs with the Tartans from San Juan Capistrano, going into the break down 22-16.
In the second half, the Tartans outscored the Mariners 12-3 in the third quarter, followed by a 5-0 run to begin the final frame. Down 39-21, the team’s offense began running through the quick decision-making of Kim Macias, and dwindled the deficit to just seven points in the final minutes. Down 46-39, Mecias was fouled on a three-point attempt with 59 seconds remaining, but the junior missed all three attempts.
Despite the late misses, Mecias was sparkling on offense, leading the Mariners with 16 points. Other offensive contributors for the squad were junior Melina Werhlie (9 points), senior Kaya Ghobrial (6 points), senior Shadel French (6 points) and sophomore Sydney Ghobrial (4 points).
While the soccer season is over, the Mariners basketball season stays alive, as all CIF-SS semi-finalists qualify for the CIF State Championship bracket, which will begin on either Feb. 27 or Feb. 28.
Sports Scores
Santa Monica Baseball
Tuesday, February 13: Vikings at Loyola, Loyola win 6-0
Batting/Baserunning: Angel Lomeli: 0-2, BB, K; Blue Hunter: 0-2, BB, SB; Bobby Munoz: 0-3, 2 K; Brady Satinover: 1-3; Isaac Liberman: 2-3, K; Jacob Myrow: 0-2; Manny Lares: 1-2, 3B; Sage Douglass: 0-3, 2 K; Spencer Levin: 0-2, BB
Pitching: Aaron Heirigs: 2.1 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 4 K, 3.00 ERA; Eddie Jennings: 3.2 IP, L, 5 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 2 BB, 4 K, 9.55 ERA
Thursday, February 15: Vikings at Brentwood School, Vikings win 3-0
Batting/Baserunning: Aaron Heirigs: 0-1, K; Angel Lomeli: 0-2, FC; Blue Hunter: 0-2, BB, K; Bobby Munoz: 1-3, RBI, K; Brady Satinover: 2-4, R, 2B, 2 K; Isaac Liberman: 0-2, R, K, Sac Bunt; Jacob Myrow: 0-1, K, Sac Bunt; Manny Lares: 0-2, BB, 2 K; Sage Douglass: 0-2, BB, 2 K; Spencer Levin: 0-2, BB, 2 K; Theo Smith: 1-1
Pitching: Gavin Kirtley: 5.0 IP, W, 1 H, 4 BB, 4 K, 0.00 ERA; Ton Ponce: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 3 K, 0.00 ERA
Saturday, February 17: Vikings at Windward, Vikings win 5-0, Vikings Record: 3-1
Next Game: Tuesday vs Highland, 3:15 p.m.
Santa Monica Lacrosse
Tuesday, February 13: Vikings at Agoura, Vikings win 11-10, Vikings Record : 1-0
Next Game: Wednesday vs Mira Costa, 3:30 p.m.
Santa Monica Softball
Wednesday, February 14: Lady Vikings vs Schurr, Schurr win 3-2 (11 innings)
Batting/Baserunning: Cienna Burgos: 1-5, 2B, K; Avey Thompson: 1-4, 2 K, Sac Bunt; Maya Paysinger: 0-4, 3 K; Jasmine Arana: 1-4, K; Drew Vudmaska: 1-5, 2 K, FC; Haley Riehl: 0-1, K; Sakura Krohn: 1-5, R; Talia Yermian: 3-4, R, BB; Andrea Castro: 2-4, RBI; Bella Myers: 2-5, 3B, RBI, FC
Pitching: Drew Vudmaska: 11 IP, 8 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 4 BB, 10 K, 1.91 ERA
Friday, February 16: Lady Vikings vs Apple Valley (Neutral Site), Lady Vikings win 8-3
Batting/Baserunning: Ava Waterstone: 0–0, R; Cienna Burgos: 0-3, 2 BB, K; Avey Thompson: 0-0, R; Maya Paysinger: 2-4, R, 2 RBI; Jasmine Arana: 1-3, R, FC; Drew Vudmaska: 2-4, 3B, RBI, FC; Haley Riehl: 1-1; Debbie Amezquita: 1-3, 2 RBI; Sakura Krohn: 2-4, R, RBI, FC; Alyssa Gonzalez: 1-1, R; Talia Yierman: 0-3, BB; Andrea Castro: 1-3, R, RBI, K; Bella Myers: 1-4, R; Brooke Meshekow: 1-1
Pitching: Drew Vudmaska: 7 IP, W, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 6 BB, 7 K, HBP, 3.00 ERA
Lady Vikings vs Aquinas (Neutral Site), Aquinas win 12-8
Batting/Baserunning: Savannah Lopez: 0-1; Cienna Burgos: 2-4, 2B, R, RBI; Avey Thompson: 1-4, 2B, 3 RBI; Drew Vudmaska: 0-4, RBI; Haley Riehl: 0-2, R, 2 BB; Debbie Amezquita: 3-4, 2 R, RBI, K; Alyssa Gonzalez: 0-2; Talia Yierman: 2-4, R, SB; Andrea Castro: 2-4, R, RBI, K; Bella Myers: 3-4, 2B, 2 R, RBI, K
Pitching: Drew Vudmaska: 6 IP, 13 H, 12 R, 12 ER, 2 BB, 5 K, 2 HR, 2 HBP, 14.00 ERA
Saturday, February 17: Lady Vikings vs Jurupa Hills (Neutral Site), Lady Vikings win 3-0, Lady Vikings Record: 2-2, Next Game: Tuesday vs Bell Gardens, 3:15 p.m.
Santa Monica Girls Lacrosse
Wednesday, February 14: Lady Vikings at Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks), Notre Dame win 16-5, Lady Vikings Record : 0-1, Next Game: Tuesday at Saugus, 3 p.m.
Saint Monica Baseball
Tuesday, February 13: Mariners vs Westchester, Mariners win 3-0
Thursday, February 15: Mariners vs Wiseburn-Da Vinci, Wieseburn Da-Vinci win 3-1, Mariners Record: 1-1, Next Game: Tuesday at Malibu, 3 p.m.
Saint Monica Girls Basketball
Wednesday, February 14: Mariners vs Jordan, 2024 CIF Southern Section Girls’ Basketball Championships- Division 3A, Mariners win 66-45
Saturday, February 17: Mariners vs St. Margaret’s, 2024 CIF Southern Section Girls’ Basketball Championships- Division 3A, St. Margaret’s win 49-41, Mariners Record : 22-10 (10-2 Camino Real League), Next Game: CIF State Playoffs, vs TBD
Saint Monica Girls Soccer
Wednesday, February 14: Mariners vs Oakwood, 2024 CIF Southern Section Girls’ Soccer Championships- Division 7, Mariners win 3-0
Saturday, February 17: Mariners at Maranatha, 2024 CIF Southern Section Girls’ Soccer Championships- Division 7, Maranatha win 3-2, Mariners Final 2023-24 Record : 20-1 (12-0 Santa Fe League)
Saint Monica Softball
Tuesday, February 13: Mariners vs Academy of Careers & Exploration (ACE), ACE win 25-15
Batting/Baserunning: Bella Lopez: 0-3, RBI, BB, 2 K; Savanna Hernandez: 2-5, R, 2 RBI; Sophia Lopez: 1-4, R, 2 K, FC; Bella Urbina: 3-4, 2 R, BB; Bella Hernandez: 2-4, 3 R, RBI, K, HBP; Ali Vogler: 4-5, HR, 3 R, 3 RBI, SB; Katrina Olmedo: 3-5, 2 R, 3 RBI, FC; Bella Czer: 0-3, R, BB, 2 K; Dylan Smith: 1-4, 2 R, K, HBP
Pitching: Bella Lopez: 0.2 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 2 K, HBP, 31.50 ERA; Bella Urbina: 5.0 IP, L, 8 H, 9 R, 9 ER, 3 HR, 4 BB, 6 K, 12.60 ERA; Katrina Olmedo: 1.1 IP, 6 H, 12 R, 6 ER, 2 HR, 4 BB, 3 K, 3 HBP, 31.50 ERA
Thursday, February 15: Mariners vs Palisades, Mariners win 5-4
Batting/Baserunning: Bella Lopez: 1-2, R, K, HBP; Savanna Hernandez: 1-4, RBI; Sophia Lopez: 1-3, RBI, 2 K; Bella Urbina: 0-3, K; Bella Hernandez: 2-3, 3B, 2 R; Ali Vogler: 2-2, R, RBI, BB; Katrina Olmedo: 1-3, R, RBI; Bella Czer: 0-2, RBI, K, HBP; Dylan Smith: 0-4
Pitching: Bella Urbina: 7 IP, W, 4 H, 4 R, 2 ER, 5 BB, 7 K, 2.00 ERA, Mariners Record : 1-1, Next Game: 2/22 vs La Salle, 3:15 p.m.
