Cougars claim regional Div. IV crown
- Updated: March 5, 2022
Erik Rosales (blue) celebrates with teammate Alex Shields.
2021-22 EAST COUNTY PREP BOYS SOCCER
STEELE CANYON 1, KING/DREW 1 (SC wins on PKs, 5-3)
ECS staff report
RANCHO SAN DIEGO — The Steele Canyon Cougars captures the CIF Division IV regional boys soccer championship, in a dramatic finish at Cougars Stadium on Saturday (Mar. 5) night.
Following a 1-1 regulation draw against King/Drew Magnet High School of Medicine and Science, which is based in Los Angeles, the Cougars took the title on a penalty shot shootout, 5-3.
The visiting Golden Eagles led the entire contest until the 80th minute when Erik Rosales tallied the equalizer. In the shootout (see video), Rosales, a sophomore, also registered the game-clinching goal.
Following a second-place finish in the Grossmont Valley League to Santana, Steele Canyon (20-4 overall) swept three opponents to claim the CIF-San Diego Section championships. The victories came against San Ysidro (2-1), a double-revenge triumph over the Sultans (2-0), then Hilltop (3-0) for the crown.
In regional competition, San Diego Section schools were again strong. For the Cougars, they nipped Quartz Hill and San Diego’s Crawford, both by 2-1 counts, before the triumph over King/Drew.
King/Drew finishes the season at 16-11-1 overall.
Note: In taking the GVL title to cap the regular season, Santana became the first Grossmont Conference school to take a league title with a perfect record (no losses or ties) since the Valley/Hills format was adopted in 2009.
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