Pali Blues Soccer Dominates the Strikers

In perhaps its most impressive performance all season, the Pali Blues women's soccer team dominated the Los Angeles Strikers in Saturday night's 3-0 victory at Occidental College in Eagle Rock.

The win moved the Blues within one point of frontrunners Vancouver and Santa Clarita in the W-League's Western Conference standings.

The Blues (7-1-5) have one game left, next Sunday at 7 p.m. against the Santa Clarita Blue Heat, who suffered their first defeat Sunday at Seattle. Pali and Santa Clarita (8-1-3) battled to a scoreless draw May 26 at Palisades High. 

Breakdowns at crucial times have plagued the Blues all season, but Saturday's game was as complete an effort as first-year coach Jacob Tudela has seen from his side.

"That's been the story of our season... out-playing teams for most of the game and making one or two mistakes that cost us, but tonight the ladies played at a high level for 90 minutes," Tudela said. "We were missing two of our Stanford girls [Rachel Quon and Mariah Noguiera] but Cami [Levin] played well and was a real spark for us."

Levin, also from Stanford, set up the last score on a nifty move to the left of the goal, drawing two defenders and the goalkeeper to her and slipping a pass to an unmarked Elizabeth Eddy at the top of the six-yard box in the 72nd minute.

"That was all Cami, honestly," Eddy said. "She made a great play to keep the ball inbounds and I basically had an open net. It would've been hard to miss."

Defender Danielle Hubka scored her first goal in a Blues uniform off an assist from Jessica Price in the 17th minute to give Pali a 1-0 lead.

"We had it in the middle, I called for it [outside] and Tiff fed me a great ball, so I dribbled down the sideline, cut in and took the shot," Hubka said. "It felt great being able to contribute to the win."

Tiffany McCarty doubled the Blues' lead in the 32nd minute on an assist from Long Beach State's Shawna Gordon. After several other close calls, the Blues took a 2-0 lead into halftime. 

Anisa Guajardo fired a shot just over the crossbar in the 57th minute and Price just missed connecting on a corner kick from Gordon after she collided with Strikers goalkeeper Jessica Szajner. The Blues outshot the host Strikers 10-9 and earned five corners to LA's two.

The Strikers' best chance to score came on a penalty kick with under four minutes left, but it sailed well over the bar. Italian international Anna Picarelli made seven saves to earn the shutout for the Blues, who now have a week to prepare for their regular season finale.

Next Sunday's rematch against Santa Clarita kicks off at 7 p.m. at Canyon High School in Canyon Country and the Blues must bring a playoff intensity to the pitch.

"They're a very good team with good center mids and we've got to go out there and try to possess the ball," Tudela said. "At our best, I think we can beat any team in the league."

Eddy doesn't expect drastic changes, nor does she think the Blues need them. "We're playing well right now so I'm sure we'll stick with what we've been doing. We're going to go at it hard and I'm sure they will too, so it'll be fun."  

Santa Clarita has two games left while Vancouver and Pali each have one.

"I know Santa Clarita has some games in hand but mathematically we're still in it," Tudela said after Saturday's game. "God is good and miracles do happen." 

Click here to view the W-League standings.

2011 PALI BLUES SCHEDULE

Saturday, May 14 -- Pali Blues 1, Los Angeles Strikers 0

Friday, May 20 -- Pali Blues 2, Victoria Highlanders 1

Thursday, May 26 -- Pali Blues 0, Santa Clarita Blue Heat 0

Wednesday, June 1 -- Pali Blues 1, Vancouver Whitecaps 1

Sunday, June 5 -- Pali Blues 2, Seattle Sounders 0

Thursday, June 9 -- Pali Blues 0, Colorado Force 0

Saturday, June 11 -- Pali Blues 2, Colorado Rush 1

Wednesday, June 22 -- Pali Blues 3, Victoria Highlanders 2

Friday, June 24 -- Vancouver Whitecaps 1, Pali Blues 0

Sunday, June 26 -- Pali Blues 3, Seattle Sounders 3

Thursday, June 30 -- Pali Blues 2, Colorado Force 0

Saturday, July 2 -- Pali Blues 1, Colorado Rush 1

Saturday, July 9 -- Pali Blues 3, Los Angeles Strikers 0

Sunday, July 17 -- at Santa Clarita Blue Heat, Canyon High, 7 p.m.

* All times Pacific