Orange Lutheran boys soccer overwhelms Littlerock to win CIF-SS Division 4 championship
Orange Lutheran’s boys soccer team got an early goal and that was all the Lancers would need to win the CIF Southern Section Division 4 championship.
The Lancers defeated Littlerock 3–0 on Thursday in the Division 4 final at Littlerock High.
WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS!!!
The boys soccer team defeated Littlerock on Thursday in the Division 4 CIF-SS title game 3-0!
This is the program's first CIF title since 1999 and only the 2nd in program history.
What an amazing run, and we are so proud of our Lancers soccer team. pic.twitter.com/91qOCr1K0v
— OLu Athletics (@OLu_Athletics) February 24, 2023
It is Orange Lutheran’s second boys soccer championship and first outright section title. The Lancers tied Carpinteria in a CIF-SS boys soccer final in 1999.
Orange Lutheran scored its three goals in the first half. Jordi Pineda scored the first two goals and Anthony Campbell scored the third.
Orange Lutheran controlled the game throughout, limiting Littlerock’s scoring opportunities.
Pineda scored on a free kick four minutes into the game. The senior midfielder scored his second goal in the 13th minute.
It’s 2-0!!! Pineda in the 13th minute. pic.twitter.com/9m46Pi4Wg9
— OLu Athletics (@OLu_Athletics) February 24, 2023
Sophomore forward Campbell scored in the 34th minute.
Lancers coach Mike Oseguera said Pineda’s first goal gave the team momentum it would not relinquish.
“It was our goal to go out there and gas-pedal them immediately,” Oseguera said. “We wanted to put them under pressure constantly. That first goal took all the wind out of their sails and pumped us up.”
Orange Lutheran (17-6-2) and Littlerock (16-2-4) continue the season in the CIF Southern California Regional that begins Tuesday. The regional bracket will be released Sunday.
Pineda was the scoring star, but he said the win was from a team effort.
“We just tried to stick together and play as a unit,” Pineda said. “We played like we know how to play.”
The Lancers have won seven of their past eight games. The only loss was to JSerra, which plays in the Division 1 championship game Saturday.
Thursday’s game was played in light snow flurries in the first half. The snow and wind increased briefly in the first few minutes of the second half then dissipated.
We are here and it is snowing! pic.twitter.com/vMuYVFrllI
— OLu Athletics (@OLu_Athletics) February 23, 2023
Littlerock is located north of the San Gabriel Mountains, 20 miles east of Palmdale.
Oseguera said the weather made the victory more satisfying.
“It was very memorable for the kids,” he said. “When they’re adults they’ll be telling their own kids some day about the time they won a championship in the snow.”