Dolphins Fall 1-0 in City Soccer Final

San Fernando Valley schools have dominated high school girls soccer in the City Section ever since the sport was sanctioned. Palisades was determined to change that in the championship game Saturday night at Contreras Learning Center.

The Dolphins' defense held top-seeded Woodland Hills El Camino Real in check through 80 minutes of regulation, 20 minutes of overtime and into the second of two five-minute sudden death periods before the Conquistadores (20-2-3) finally brought an end to the stalemate on sophomore forward Jackie Altschuld's golden goal in the 107th minute.

The 1-0 victory gave El Camino Real its second straight City title and 10th overall. Altschuld's game-winner was the first goal Palisades allowed in 15 games and just the fifth scored against the Dolphins all season. Senior goalkeeper Kiki Bailey had 21 saves and the one shot that got past her prior to Altschuld's unassisted tally hit the post with just over 10 minutes left in regulation.

It was a heartbreaking defeat for the second-seeded Dolphins (22-2-1), who were making their second appearance in the City finals, having lost to El Camino Real 4-0 in the 2005 at East LA College. However, that was before any of the current Dolphins arrived at Palisades. First-year coach Tianna Oliver was then the junior varsity coach and an assistant to head coach Kim Smith, now coaching at Archer Academy.  

Palisades managed only four shots on goal, but one by senior midfielder Meredith Kornfeind caromed off the post less than five minutes into the second half.

The Dolphins finished the season with 82 goals. Junior forward Katie van Daalen Wetters led the Dolphins in points with 19 goals and eight assists and senior striker Sam Elander added 16 goals and four assists. Bailey recorded 144 saves and posted 19 shutouts.