El Camino Real girls’ soccer team gets 14th consecutive shutout

Perfection is rarely achieved in any sport, but the El Camino Real girls’ soccer team will be playing for more than their 15th City Section title at Valley College. It will also attempt a rare feat – navigating through an entire season without conceding a goal to a City opponent.

The second-placed Royals (14-3-3) defeated the third-placed Palisades 2-0 for the second time this season on Tuesday at the Sepulveda Basin Sports Complex for their 14th straight shutout. They haven’t conceded a goal since December 21 and have given up only three this season – all to Southern Section teams – and each cost them a win.

El Camino Real have beaten their last 14 opponents 39-0 and pride themselves on their impenetrable defense. Of course, the Royals have plenty of offensive firepower and it was shown against Palisades (14-2-2), who were trying to avenge their non-league loss on January 4th.

In the 18th minute, junior Sharon Alcocer scored the only goal the Royals needed when she fed Sophia Frederick in the box, putting the ball straight into the post. Alcocer added a well-placed strike into the top right corner five minutes into the second half, while Royals goalkeeper Isabella Andrino jumped as high as she could to get her glove on the ball, slamming it off the bar and out to steer Keep the goal conceded 20 minutes past full time.

“We’re very proud of not letting teams score, but I give credit to my defence,” Andrino said. “There were some games where I didn’t touch the ball once. The whole key is our communication. We had a communication error today and it almost cost us something so we need to be sure we talk so it doesn’t happen again.”

El Camino Real last won a City title in 2018 and meets West Valley League rivals Cleveland for the championship in a repeat of last year’s finals, which Cleveland won 4-2. The Cavaliers beat Granada Hills 6-5 on penalties on Tuesday after a goalless match and overtime.

After a 1-0 win and 0-0 draw against Cleveland in league play, ECR coach Eric Choi knows the Cavaliers are capable of an upset if his team doesn’t stick to the formula.

“In the league, the shutout streak meant a lot to us because there were more games to play, but now in the playoffs it’s all about wins, however you can get them,” Choi said. “Anything can happen in a league game and we understand that.”