CCS soccer playoff roundup • Friday, Feb. 28, 2025

CCS semifinals

Division III

No. 4 Menlo School 2, No. 1 Menlo-Atherton 1

The Knights punched their ticket to the Division III title game after beating the crosstown rival Bears. After a scoreless first half, all three goals were scored in the final 23 minutes. Everleigh Porter gave Menlo (15-4-3) a 1-0 lead with 23 minutes left in regulation, but M-A (10-7-3) tied it on a penalty kick with 13 minutes left to play. But Krista Arreola’s strike with under 10 minutes to go proved to be the game winner for the Knights.

Menlo will take on third-seeded Mountain View (12-7-2) in the Division III championship game at 12:30 p.m. Saturday at Sequoia High School. The Spartans topped No. 2 Palo Alto, 1-0.

Division IV

No. 2 Christopher 2, No. 3 Nueva School 2

Christopher advances on penalty kicks, 4-3

The Mavericks’ quest to reach a second straight CCS championship game ended with a penalty-kick loss to the Cougars. Nueva (19-3-0) advanced to the 2024 Division V final, losing to rival Crystal. Christopher (14-5-3) will take on No. 5 Soquel (14-4-2) in the championship game at 3 p.m. Saturday at Del Mar High School.

Division V

No. 1 Sacred Heart Prep 5, No. 4 Notre Dame-SJ 0

The Gators scored early and they didn’t stop as the blew out the Regents in the semifinals of the CCS Division V bracket. Lauryn Masetti opened the scoring in the sixth minute for SHP (10-7-3) off a pass from Lauren Bassett. Sarina Yu, who scored twice, gave the Gators a 2-0 lead at halftime off a Masetti assist. The Gators then tacked on three more goals in the second half from Yu, Averie Sui and Lewa White. Isabella Gonzalez, Talia Samuels and Masetti added assists.

The Gators will face No. 2 North Monterey County (15-4-3) in Saturday’s championship game at 12:30 p.m. at Del Mar High School in San Jose. NMC beat No. 3 Rancho San Juan, 2-1 in the other semifinal.

BOYS’ SOCCER

CCS semifinals

Division II

No. 1 Hillsdale 3, No. 5 Hollister 0

The top-seeded Knights advanced to their first-ever CCS final after beating the Haybalers in San Mateo Wednesday night. Tyler Hughes opened the scoring, putting home a rebound off an Aiden Reyes free kick. Sineth Andrabadu put the Knights up 2-0 off an assist from Donnor Gilbert and Carson Levy rounded out the scoring, with Hughes picking up the assist. Knights goalkeeper Emi Lopez finished with nine saves to post his 14th clean sheet of the season.

Hillsdale (18-1-2) will face No. 3 Menlo School for the Division II title at 10 a.m. Saturday at Sequoia High School.

No. 3 Menlo School 1, No. 7 Carlmont 0

Carter Techel’s first-half goal was enough to lift the Knights past the Scots in a Division II semifinal match. Goalkeeper Sebastian Quezada got the shutout for Menlo (16-3-3), which will face top-seeded Hillsdale for the Division II title. Carlmont finishes the season 11-8-1.

Division V

No. 6 Crystal 3, No. 2 Saratoga 1

The Gryphons’ magical run continues in their inaugural CCS appearance as they will play for the Division V championship after knocking off the Falcons. The Crystal girls’ squad won the 2024 Division V title. Crystal (16-2-4) had never qualified for CCS until this season and has now its first two wins after beating No. 3 El Camino 1-0 in overtime last Saturday.

The Gryphons scored all three of its goals in the first half. Saturday’s hero, Dante Martin, struck for his second playoff goal for Crystal, with Brighton Ramos and Evan Collins rounding out the scoring. Tarik Baker, Charlie Keenan and Kristian Bisgaard each had an assist for the Gryphons.

Crystal will face No. 4 Milpitas (10-3-7) in the title game at 3 p.m. Saturday at Sequoia High School. Milpitas knocked off top-seeded Silver Creek (13-5-4) in overtime, 3-1.