COTTAGE GROVE – La Salle Prep turned in an impressive performance in the first round of the OSAA playoffs Saturday night, but came up just short in a 1-0 loss to the Cottage Grove Lions.
The Falcons were eliminated from the tournament and concluded their season with an overall record of 9-7-1.
In a game played almost entirely in a driving rainstorm, Cottage Grove scored the game-winning goal on a penalty kick late in the second half after La Salle was whistled for an unintentional handball in the box.
“Although we didn’t get the result we were hoping for in Cottage Grove, I thought our girls played some of their best soccer all season,” said first-year Falcon coach Ryan Cereghino. “I hate to have a game decided by a penalty, but that is how it goes sometimes. There were a lot of actions all over the field which led to the shot and the inadvertent handball.”
The game marked the end of the prep careers for eight La Salle seniors: Carly Christoferson, Elizabeth Danna, Stephanie Socotch, Marissa Cereghino, Courtney Lyell, Ashley Nunn, Genny Robinson, and Safiyah Maurice.
“After the game I told the players how proud I was of them,” said Cereghino. “The seniors will be missed, and provided our leadership all season. I am confident that the juniors will step into their leadership roles next year and continue where we left off. Coach O’Dell-Ream and Coach Braghero did an amazing job with the varsity squad and are great assets to the program. Coach Strand also did a great job developing the JV players and I anticipate some of these players to step up and contribute to the varsity team next year. I had a great year, and the players and the parents made this an enjoyable season. I am already excited and looking toward next year.”
Dave Haglund
