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    Orange County boys soccer teams go 3-for-3 in first CIF state championships
    • March 16, 2026

    Three Orange County boys soccer teams traveled to Sacramento this past weekend for the first-ever CIF State Championships in the sport.

    All three returned home with state championships won at Natomas High School.

    University won the CIF State Division IV championship Friday with a 3-2 win over Del Mar of San Jose.

    Los Alamitos beat Watsonville, 1-0, in the Division III state final Saturday before Mater Dei defeated Everett Alvarez of Salinas, 2-1, in the Division I championship game.

    University (19-5-1) took a 3-0 lead on first-half goals by seniors Cole Barkett and Jake Rabold and sophomore Brendan Leung. They would need all three of them. Del Mar scored twice in the final five minutes.

    Del Mar's Luis Mendoza (21) and University's Cole Barkett (25) jump for the ball in the second half during the CIF State Division IV championship game in Natomas High School, Sacramento, Calif., on Friday, March 13, 2026. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)
    Del Mar’s Luis Mendoza (21) and University’s Cole Barkett (25) jump for the ball in the second half during the CIF State Division IV championship game in Natomas High School, Sacramento, Calif., on Friday, March 13, 2026. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)

    Del Mar had a free kick with 11 seconds remaining. That free kick was caught in the air by University senior goaltender Lucca Clouthier to seal the victory. Clouthier had five saves in the game.

    University also won the CIF Southern Section Division 4 championship this season.

    Los Alamitos junior Carter Coleman scored in the 52nd minute in the Griffins’ Division III final against Watsonville.

    The Griffins (19-15-2) won the CIF-SS Division 3 championship last month when their opponent for the final, Calabasas, withdrew because it used an ineligible player during the season.

    Players for Los Alamitos' boys soccer team begin to celebrate after defeating Watsonville 1-0 in the CIF State Division III championship game Saturday, March 14, 2026, at Natomas High School in Sacramento. (Photo by Juan Flores, Special to the Sentinel)
    Players for Los Alamitos’ boys soccer team begin to celebrate after defeating Watsonville 1-0 in the CIF State Division III championship game Saturday, March 14, 2026, at Natomas High School in Sacramento. (Photo by Juan Flores, Special to the Sentinel)

    The Griffins finished fourth in the seven-team Sunset League. They then went on a 10-game winning streak to capture CIF-SS and CIF State championships.

    Mater Dei’s boys team concluded the two-day event with a win in the Division I final Saturday night.

    Seniors Devin Madero and Santiago Schelotto scored for Mater Dei. Madero and James Obleda were credited with assists.

    Mater Dei coach Sean Ganey said playing in the Trinity League prepared the Monarchs for the postseason.

    “The Trinity League is so tough in every game you play and everyone knows it,” Ganey said. “Every moment is big. All of those games matter and shape who you are.”

    By adding the state finals, the CIF has made an already long season even longer for boys and girls soccer teams.

    But from Ganey’s perspective, it is a great addition to the season.

    “It was awesome,” Ganey said. “I told Chris (Fahey, in charge of CIF State soccer) that they did a great job with this. I’m really stoked that CIF State put on such a great event for the kids.”

     Orange County Register 

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