Point Loma boys soccer received a high seed in Div. I playoff action, which included a first-round bye. Playing at home last Saturday evening under their new lights, the No. 4 seed Pointers dispatched El Cajon’s No. 12 seed Granite Hills 3-0 in a dominating performance.
As a reward, the Dogs traveled to No. 1 seed St. Augustine and won the playoff semifinal battle on Feb. 28.
Last year, the two teams met twice during the regular season with Saints taking a 3-0 victory and the teams settling for a 0-0 tie before the Saints advanced in CIF play on the strength of an epic 1-0 semifinal victory over the Pointers that ended in penalty kicks after the teams battled for 80 minutes plus an overtime period with neither team able to put a ball in the net.
This season has seen a reversal, with the Pointers winning both their meetings by scores of 2-1 and 1-0, the latter on the strength of a first-half Barrett Wolf goal off an assist from Timmy Mooring.
Point Loma will play in the finals against Scripps Ranch Saturday, March 3 in a 7 p.m. kickoff at Mission Bay High School’s new stadium.
Meanwhile, in the Granite Hills match, sophomore Luca Queiroz scored in the 15th minute after a long throw into the penalty box with Wolf scoring just three minutes later after a scramble in front of the Eagles’ goal.
In the second half’s first minute an Eagle foul in the box gave the Pointers a free kick which was deftly drilled into the net by Mooring.
Pointer goaltender Marley Mascarenas only needed to make two saves as the Pointers moved to 8-8-2 on the season and the Eagles finished at 8-13-3.