Top-Seeded Arcadia Has Final Goal in Sight

Arcadia High is the top-seeded team for the Southern Section Division I girls’ soccer playoffs, a status the Apaches are enjoying for the second time in three years.

Arcadia (22-0-3) is intent on making this year’s playoff run different from the disaster of 1999, when it lost in the first round.

“I just reminded them what it felt like when we lost two years ago,” said Arcadia Coach Shelby Elliott, whose team plays Highland on Friday.

Arcadia won its only Southern Section title in 1993 when it won the Division II championship with a victory over Anaheim Canyon.

This year’s team has nine seniors, including center midfielder Paula Wizel, forward Kelly Hurley, outside back Kelly Goudge and marking back Lindsey Peeples.

Last year, Arcadia advanced to the Division I semifinals, where it lost to eventual champion Mission Viejo Capistrano Valley, 3-0.

“This would be the year for us to win it because we have such an experienced team,” Elliott said. “This group has lost early in the playoffs and also went to the semis, so they’ve been through it.”

Capistrano Valley is seeded second, Aliso Niguel third and Rancho Cucamonga fourth.

Mission Viejo is the top-seeded girls’ team in Division II. Other top-seeded girls’ teams are Santa Margarita (Division III), Corona del Mar (IV) and Brentwood (V).

Top-seeded boys’ teams are Dana Hills (I), El Dorado (II), La Verne Bonita (III), La Canada (IV) and Pasadena Poly (V).

Championship games will be played March 3.

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First-round games in the girls’ water polo playoffs are Saturday, except in Division III, which played first-round games Wednesday.

Santa Ana Foothill is the top-seeded team in Division I. Other top-seeded teams are Agoura (Division II), Bell Gardens (III), Corona del Mar (IV) and Riverside Arlington (V).

Championship games will be played Feb. 27-28.