Tarbut V’Torah’s girls soccer team didn’t receive a top-four seed for its division when the CIF-SS playoff brackets were released Monday, but the Lions know they won’t be overlooked, either.
Not with senior Carly Malatskey on their roster.
Malatskey, who this month signed with Stanford, has obliterated the Orange County record for goals in a single season. Her 66 goals rank fourth in the CIF-SS record book, which was last updated before this season.
Malatskey is in striking distance of Frazier Mountain of Lebec’s Stephanie Lemburg, whose 72 goals rank second all-time.
“Honestly, you need three (players) to mark Carly,” said TVT coach Walid Khoury, who noted that Webb of Claremont had three players on Malatskey throughout a game last week.
“When they pushed one of their top players up, she was still breaking them. Three out of five times she broke the triple team. There’s a reason why she’s going to Stanford.”
Orange County did have two teams that received top seeds – Aliso Niguel (Division 1) and Troy (Division 2) – on Monday.
Troy coach Mike Silzer said his team shouldn’t feel pressured by the ranking.
“North Orange County soccer is at a good level, and we’re glad to represent the No. 1 spot,” he said. “Every game that we play is a chance to reach our potential for the season. It’s a good spot to be in.”
The Division 1 bracket has several intriguing first-round matchups Thursday, including Esperanza at Tesoro in a battle of the past two Excalibur Tournament champions.
Canyon-San Juan Hills and Edison-Dana Hills are playoff rematches from last year’s first round. Last year, the Comanches edged the Mustangs, 3-2, but this time, they will have to do it without their leading goal scorer Penelope Hocking.
Hocking (21 goals) and Villa Park’s Brianna Guerra received one-game suspensions for fighting in a Crestview League game last week.
“We really paid a high price,” Comanches coach Pedro Santos said. “I know it’s a rivalry, and it’s always an intense game. For about five or six minutes, it turned into a battle, and I personally don’t like it at all.
“I don’t want that action. It blurs all the hard work and the good soccer that the girls have been playing all season.”
