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Poway Titans roll into title match with Santa Monica

By Major Rogers - For the North County Times | Thursday, March 6, 2008 10:09 PM PST

FRESNO ---- The cold, grey, Central California skies didn't cloud the performance of Poway High's boys' soccer team as it continued its march in the CIF Southern California regional soccer championships. The Titans conquered a physical Roosevelt squad, coming away with a 3-1 victory on Thursday evening at Fresno Pacific University.

Poway� (22-2-4) moves into this Saturday's regional championship match against top-seeded Santa Monica, a 3-0 winner over Wilmington Banning, at Warren High in Downey.

The Roosevelt crowd was momentarily quieted as Poway's Spencer Skeen placed one in the net from 15 feet out with 23 minutes remaining in the first half.

"After that first goal we had a sense that we had them," Skeen said, "but also knew we would have to continue to play tough."

Both teams played with heavy contact that went unchecked by officials. Until senior Peter Katakalidis was literally tacked by Roosevelt players directly in front of the Roughriders' cage, thwarting a potential goal. The move proved futile, though, as senior E.J. Schneekluth put the penalty kick away with 18 minutes left in the first half.

The Roughriders (20-5-5) were held scoreless in the first half as the Titans' defense continued its reputation as a stingy unit.

Second-half play showcased impressive technical footwork by Roosevelt, though the actions did not prove effective against Poway's high-pressure defense.

With 28 minutes left in second half, Poway sophomore Alex Henry placed a textbook left-footed corner kick that was masterfully headed in by senior Collin Wooster, giving the Titans a� three-goal cushion.

Poway controlled the majority of balls in the air, but with 9 minutes left, Roosevelt's only score came from a ball crossed on the ground by Omar Santoyo that set up a� Jose Perez's goal from 20 feet out.

The Roughriders never let up and looked to score another with 7 minutes left, but Poway senior goal keeper Ian Weinberg charged an advancing Roughrider forward and robbed him of the shot.

Roosevelt kept the Titans' defense on high alert for the next several minutes keeping the ball in Titan territory, but failing to score.

Desperation was in the air when a small scuffle broke out between a few Poway players in front of the Roosevelt bench in the game's waning moments.

Many of Poway's bench players were utilized as the team dealt with fatigue from a long road trip and a wider field.

"The kids legs were a little winded, so I subbed a bit more at the end of the first half than I normally would have," Poway coach Gene Morris said.

The Titans, the No. 7 seed, weren't intimidated going against the No. 3-seeded Roosevelt.

"We've eliminated the number two seed, and now the number three seed,'' Morris said. "And Saturday maybe it will the number one seed.