Bob Blumenfield: The real story behind the Woodland Hills Country Club proposal

• October 4, 2026

The recent proposal to develop the Woodland Hills Country Club (WHCC) has sparked a lot of emotion and misinformation regarding development in high fire severity zones and in wildlife habitat. This was on full display in a recent commentary in this newspaper (“LA declared a golf course mountain lion habitat to kill a housing project,” 9/27/26).

Given its size and location in the Santa Monica Mountains, with evidence from the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy and residents, it is unsurprising that the city’s biological report by a wildlife expert concluded that this site is mountain lion habitat. But that’s not the whole story, and the community deserves full transparency.

First and foremost, this project was not killed. It remains eligible for a normal review that includes fire safety, evacuation routes, and other CEQA factors before granting a zone change. The truth is this developer does not seem willing to do the work to obtain those approvals and instead sought multiple shortcuts, including not working with the community, to fast-track approval with no review for fire safety or environmental impacts.

The developer submitted a proposal to build 398 townhomes on a portion of the property, with long-term plans to fill the site with additional homes. WHCC is perched in the Santa Monica Mountains, with 92 acres of open space in the Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone, near the burn areas of the 2025 Palisades Fire and the 2018 Woolsey Fire. It is surrounded by a tangle of narrow, poorly-maintained hillside roads known locally as the “Spaghetti Streets” where evacuation in case of an emergency is already a real concern.

Normally, sensitive hillside developments involve a discretionary review process that allows the city to fully weigh environmental and safety risks and negotiate site plan adjustments or modifications. Many large and successful projects have gone through the process, and there is no reason that the developer should not also go through this process.

A project could avoid any environmental review whatsoever if eligible for Assembly Bill 2011, a state law amended in 2025, aimed at “underused commercial land” and transit-oriented development (TOD).

But the WHCC is not suitable as a TOD site, sitting nearly a mile from the closest bus stop. From that bus stop, it is a nearly two-hour ride with at least two transfers to job centers like Downtown Los Angeles or Century City. This is not transit-oriented development. Furthermore, Dumetz is not a commercial corridor, nor is the section of Canoga Avenue where the WHCC is located.

Developers complain about “years of discretionary review.” Ironically, this property owner first approached me about developing this parcel in 2020. I told them to talk to the community for input about what might fit in the neighborhood. Instead of working together with the community, they sent their lobbyists to Sacramento. Then, as soon as Gov. Gavin Newsom signed more housing amendments to Assembly Bill 2011, they pounced to take advantage of laws that seemed to create a loophole in the process.

When their end run triggered intense community concern and pushback, they came back and asked me to broker a closed-door deal and commit the city to a zone change. I made it clear I wouldn’t support that unless there was real community consensus. While I was willing to be a go-between if neighborhood leaders could support an alternative, it was not my deal to make. And the developer wanted to keep their original plan alive. Ultimately, the lack of trust between the developer and community prevented a successful behind-the-scenes negotiation.

I strongly support housing and TODs around major transit stations and commercial corridors. I finalized the Warner Center 2035 Specific Plan, making it the easiest place to build more housing, bar none. Since 2013, the city has approved more than 11,000 housing units here with more than 6,000 built so far. I have worked with the Planning Department to develop TOD plans for G (Orange) Line stations in my district, and on local implementation of Senate Bill 79, allowing denser development by transit. In short, I have consistently been a strong advocate for more housing.

My goal is not to stop the development of this site. Instead, it’s to ensure that any development balances critical fire safety and environmental concerns with our equally important housing needs. I’ve pushed to streamline housing development around transit and commercial uses and believe we can do even more. But developers who abuse state housing laws are only creating opposition to real solutions and in my view are putting profits over the public’s interest.

Bob Blumenfield represents District 3 on the Los Angeles City Council

​ Orange County Register 

Kings’ comeback falls short in overtime loss to Sharks

• October 4, 2026

SAN JOSE, Calif. — Igor Chernyshov scored his second goal of the game with 1:42 remaining in overtime and the San Jose Sharks beat the Kings 5-4 on Saturday night for their second straight win to open the season.

The Kings rallied from two goals down in the third to tie the game and controlled play for most of the overtime. But San Jose came out on top when Chernyshov beat Anton Forsberg on a one-timer off a pass from Macklin Celebrini, who has five assists in two games.

After not getting a win in the first five games the past four seasons, the Sharks have back-to-back overtime wins to begin this season after beating Florida 4-3 in the opener Thursday night.

Tyler Toffoli, Kiefer Sherwood and Nolan Allan also scored for San Jose. Yaroslav Askarov made 31 saves.

Adrian Kempe, Quinton Byfield, Erik Haula and Anteri Panarin scored for the Kings but it wasn’t enough to keep them from falling to 0-2 on the season. Forsberg made 20 saves.

Chernyshov gave San Jose a 4-2 lead early in the third when he scored on a breakaway but the Kings responded. Haula scored to make it a one-goal game and Panarin got the equalizer with 5:01 remaining after a poor clearing attempt by Allan.

The Kings struck first when Kempe scored on a one-timer off a pass from Panarin on the power play in the first. The Sharks took control with three goals in the second, starting when Toffoli tapped in a perfect feed from rookie Ivar Stenberg on the power play. It was the first career point for the 19-year-old Stenberg.

The Kings got one back with 1.3 seconds left in the period when Byfield scored on the power play.

Up next

Kings: Host Florida on Tuesday night.

​ Orange County Register 

Brewers survive bizarre finish to beat Padres in NLDS opener

• October 4, 2026

By STEVE MEGARGEE AP Sports Writer

MILWAUKEE — William Contreras hit a tiebreaking homer in the seventh inning and the Milwaukee Brewers hung on to beat the San Diego Padres, 3-2, in the opener of their National League Division Series on Saturday night after a potential go-ahead homer by the Padres’ Ty France hit the American Family Field roof and landed in outfielder Jackson Chourio’s glove for an out.

San Diego had a runner on first with one out in the ninth inning when France, a former West Covina South Hills High standout, hit a towering flyball that struck a railing on the roof before Chourio caught it in fair territory on the left-field warning track.

Under the stadium’s ground rules, any batted ball striking the roof or one of its cables in fair territory is a fair ball that can be caught for an out, so Chourio’s catch retired France. The Padres unsuccessfully challenged that France’s drive was a foul ball.

“We joked about it at the umpire meeting today about what would happen if the ball hit the roof. And it was unlikely, but it happened,” San Diego manager Craig Stammen said. “Unfortunately, a bad break for us. Looked like it was a possible home run. Just didn’t go our way.”

France’s drive left his bat at 105.3 mph with a 49-degree launch angle. It was caught 325 feet from home plate.

Milwaukee manager Pat Murphy thought the ball would have hooked foul if it didn’t ricochet off the roof.

“It was going to be a foul ball, for sure. I’m standing right on that line,” Murphy said. “A hitter that talented, they would have liked to have that hitter back up there with another strike.”

Jackson Merrill then lined out to right to end the game.

Chourio also hit a two-run homer as the Brewers won for the 16th time in 19 games. San Diego lost for only the fourth time in its past 24 outings despite chasing hard-throwing Milwaukee ace Jacob Misiorowski after four innings.

This best-of-five series continues Sunday with a Game 2 pitching matchup featuring San Diego’s Michael King (12-10, 3.21 ERA) and Milwaukee’s Logan Henderson (11-3, 2.47).

Contreras had gone just 1 for 20 against the Padres this season before delivering the biggest hit of the game on a 3-and-2 pitch from Adrian Morejon. As his 406-foot shot cleared the wall in right-center field, the three-time All-Star turned to face Milwaukee’s dugout and celebrate in front of teammates on his way to first base.

Contreras joined Boston’s Willson Contreras to become the fifth set of brothers to homer in the same postseason, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. The others are Ken and Clete Boyer (1964), Sandy Jr. and Roberto Alomar (1997), Stephen and J.D. Drew (2007) and Bo and Josh Naylor (2025). Willson Contreras homered in Game 2 of Boston’s American League Wild Card Series loss to the New York Yankees.

San Diego wasted scoring opportunities all night, particularly late in the game.

The Padres loaded the bases in the seventh against Abner Uribe before DL Hall retired Merrill on a fly to left to end the threat.

San Diego also put runners on first and second with one out in the eighth after Hall issued a pair of walks, but the Padres again failed to capitalize. Austin Hays hit a fly to right against Hall that advanced pinch-runner Samad Taylor to third, then Trevor Megill struck out Fernando Tatis Jr. on three pitches to strand runners on the corners.

Megill then worked around a leadoff single to Dustin Harris in the ninth to pick up the save while getting a major assist from the roof.

“Megill was masterful,” Murphy said. “All five relievers did a heck of a job.”

Milwaukee was opening its postseason Saturday after winning a franchise-record 103 games to earn home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. Misiorowski played a big role in that success by posting a 1.80 ERA, striking out 252 batters and limiting hitters to a .157 batting average to lead the major leagues in all three categories.

Misiorowski opened his first playoff start by throwing a 104.8 mph strike to Tatis, the fastest postseason pitch since tracking began in 2008.

But the 6-foot-7 right-hander left the game earlier than usual as the Padres fouled off 30 of his 88 pitches – 31 if you count Xander Bogaerts’ pop-up that was caught in foul territory.

“His (velocity) dropped 5 mph almost in the second inning. He wasn’t in sync,” Murphy said.

San Diego took a 2-0 lead by scoring a pair of runs off Misiorowski in the second.

Bogaerts, Ethan Salas and Luis Campusano hit consecutive one-out singles, with Campusano’s base hit to right driving in Bogaerts. Jake Cronenworth then hit a broken-bat grounder, and first baseman Jake Bauers was unable to throw out Salas at the plate.

San Diego could have done even more damage that inning, but Manny Machado grounded out to leave the bases loaded.

The Brewers responded in the third thanks to Chourio, who already has established himself as one of the game’s top playoff performers at age 22.

“He’s gifted. He’s a beautiful spirit. He’s gifted mentally. He’s smiling every day and nothing gets him down. You never see Jack-Jack down,” Murphy said.

With a runner on second and one out, Chourio delivered a 420-foot drive over the wall in left-center for his franchise-record fifth career postseason homer in his 13th playoff game. Chourio had shared the mark with Prince Fielder and Orlando Arcia.

According to MLB.com, the only other players to hit five playoff homers before their 23rd birthday are Kyle Schwarber and Juan Soto.

​ Orange County Register 

No. 18 USC football’s defense holds up late in win over Washington

• October 4, 2026

LOS ANGELES — USC trailed by one point heading into the final quarter of what felt like a must-win game against Washington on Saturday night, but a game-changing fumble recovery by defensive tackle Jahkeem Stewart got the Trojans the go-ahead touchdown and win they desperately needed.

The Trojans, who won 25-21,  were in danger of losing their second straight game at the Coliseum after falling to Oregon the week prior due to a short-handed offense and disconcerted defensive efforts.

Trent Mosley and tight end Mark Bowman — who rank second and third in receiving yards — did not play on Saturday due to injury.

Zacharyus Williams was the leading receiver with 78 yards on four catches. Quarterback Jayden Maiava went 21-of-34 for 245 yards and a touchdown with one interception.

Washington was leading USC 14-10 at the end of the first half.

Caden Chittenden hit a 26-yard field goal early in the opening quarter to get the Trojans on the board, but the Huskies were the first to score a touchdown and did so with a trick play.

Ta’Mere Robinson, who was starting in place of a suspended Desman Stephens II, sacked Williams on second down after initial pressure from safety Alex Graham for a loss of five yards. Washington rallied, however, and Williams got off a 7-yard pass and ran for 11 yards to help the Huskies convert on fourth down.

They relied on running back Brian Bonner to get to the 5-yard line and scored on a double-pass play. USC’s defense took the bait when Washington faked a run play, leaving Dezman Roebuck open to catch a quick pass from Williams and toss the ball to uncovered tight end Baron Naone for a 5-yard touchdown.

Maiava threw his third interception of the season at the start of the second quarter. He was forced to throw off his back foot as the pocket collapsed around him, and the ball landed in Ryan Dillon-Allen’s hands.

Washington was unable to score, however, and USC finally reached the end zone when it got the ball back.

Maiava launched a 40-yard pass to Williams to start the drive, but it was a well-designed run play that got the Trojans a touchdown. Two tight ends shifted to the left to block, leaving Waymond Jordan to trot eight yards into the end zone.

Bonner, a Valencia High School product, continued to be the go-to guy in the run game. He broke off runs of eight and 13 yards in the Huskies’ final drive of the third quarter, and had a quick 2-yard gain to put Washington on the 1-yard line after the team pulled off its second successful double-pass play of the night.

Kade Eldridge took a direct snap and ran in for a 1-yard touchdown that gave Washington a 14-0 lead with 1:50 left in the opening half.

Tackling once again proved to be USC’s detriment at the start of the third quarter. Williams made a quick pass to his right to connect with tight end Decker Degraaf, who took off for a 42-yard touchdown and a 21-10 lead.

The Trojans missed two tackles as Degraaf hurtled toward the end of the field. They were out-tackled by Washington 63-47 in the game.

USC kept chugging away on the ensuing drive, rattling off five run plays for a gain of 19 yards, and Maiava connected with Tanook Hines for a 10-yard touchdown. Hines battled with cornerback Dylan Robinson for the ball and ultimately snatched it before landing in the end zone.

The defense picked an opportune time to make its biggest play of the game and put USC in the lead again.

Linebacker Elijah Newby, who was playing in his first game of the season, delivered a hit on Williams as his arm was cocked to make a throw and knocked the ball to the ground. Defensive tackle Jahkeem Stewart scooped the ball up and rumbled 48 yards down the field for a touchdown and a 22-21 lead heading into the final quarter of play.

Chittenden knocked in a 39-yard field goal to increase USC’s lead to 25-21 with 9:36 remaining in the game, and Kameryn Crawford sacked Williams for a loss of six yards on Washington’s final drive of the game to knock the wind out of the Huskies.

​ Orange County Register 

Air quality alert active for 5 Freeway north of LA Sunday

• October 4, 2026

5 Freeway corridor near Santa Clarita, Santa Clarita Valley, Santa Susana Mountains and Western San Gabriel Mountains/Highway 14 Corridor are included in an air quality alert reported by the National Weather Service on Saturday at 8:35 p.m. The alert is in effect until Sunday Oct. 4, at 8:45 p.m.

Air quality alerts: Recommendations from the NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard CA

When an air quality alert is in effect, following the NWS guidance is pivotal. Here are some simple tips from the NWS for safeguarding your well-being:

Seek shelter indoors when possible:

Whenever possible, seek refuge indoors, especially if you grapple with respiratory concerns, health issues, or belong to the senior or child demographic

Curb outdoor exposure:

When venturing outside is unavoidable, restrict your time outdoors solely to essential activities. Reducing exposure is paramount.

Reduce pollution contributors:

Be mindful of activities that increase pollution, like driving cars, operating gas-powered lawnmowers, or using motorized vehicles. Limit their usage during air quality alerts.

Banish open burning:

Resist the urge to burn debris or any other materials during an air quality alert. This practice only adds to the air pollution problem.

Stay well-informed:

Stay updated of developments by tuning in to NOAA Weather Radio or your preferred weather news source. Being well-informed empowers you to make informed decisions regarding outdoor pursuits during air quality alerts.

Prioritize respiratory health:

If you have respiratory issues or health problems, exercise extra caution. These conditions can make you more vulnerable to the adverse effects of poor air quality.

By adhering to the advice from the NWS, you can enhance your safety during air quality alerts while reducing your exposure to potentially harmful pollutants. Stay aware, stay protected, and make your health a top priority.

For more local weather alerts, visit our Weather Advisory page

​ Orange County Register 

USC football missing 2 top offensive players against Washington

• October 4, 2026

LOS ANGELES — USC was missing two of its top-performing offensive players for Saturday’s game against Washington: receiver Trent Mosley and tight end Mark Bowman.

Both freshman standouts were wearing a jersey, sweatpants and no shoes during warm-ups.

Mosley has now missed three straight games due to a knee injury, but is still the team’s second-leading receiver with 255 yards and four touchdowns on 13 receptions. Bowman has the third-most receiving yards on the team with 204 on 21 catches and has also scored two touchdowns.

Zacharyus Williams led the team in the first half, hauling in three passes for 55 yards, including a 40-yarder.

Safety Alex Graham and defensive tackles Alex VanSumeren and Jahkeem Stewart each played after being listed as “questionable” on the Big Ten availability report earlier in the week.

Graham and VanSumeren, as well as Bowman, were listed as “game time decisions” on the game day availability report.

The defense was down an important linebacker in Desman Stephens II, who was serving a one-game suspension issued by USC due to a late hit on Oregon quarterback Dante Moore and his celebration afterward.

Ta’mere Robinson started alongside Deven Bryant on Saturday and quickly made the most of his opportunity by sacking Washington quarterback Demond Williams for a loss of five yards late in the first quarter.

Card stunts return

The USC Trojan Knights brought back the card stunt tradition on Saturday for the first time since the 2000s.

All seats in Sections 123A, 123B, 124A and 124B in the student section had a reversible card with red and yellow sides, and fans raised the cards during halftime to create four different patterns: the SoCal logo, “USC,” “fight on” and the SC interlacing logo. All card stunts were chosen by the Trojan Knights.

USC began doing card stunts in the 1920s, and the Trojans teamed up with Kivett Productions, which also does giant American flag presentations at the Coliseum, to bring them back for the homecoming game.

“I think it’s fun for the audience to do this,” Joe Kivett of Kivett Productions said. “We’ve done several Super Bowl halftime shows and if you look at the pictures from those, it’s like 99% participation. Deep down, everybody wants to be part of the show.”

Kivett spent the game on the sidelines, where he communicated with the Trojan Knights through a radio headset to coordinate timing for giant cards with instructions for the crowd.

Tunnel captain

Super Bowl champion and USC alumnus Terrell Thomas was the Trojans’ tunnel captain for Saturday’s game against Washington.

Thomas was drafted in the second round as the 63rd overall pick in the 2008 NFL Draft by the New York Giants, and spent all four seasons of his NFL career with the team. His best season was in 2010, when he collected 101 tackles, five interceptions and 21 pass breakups.

He was with the Giants for their Super Bowl run in the 2011 season, though he missed the year due to a knee injury.

At USC, he hauled in a team-best four interceptions that were returned for 44 yards and also logged 45 tackles and 4.5 tackles for loss.

​ Orange County Register 

Alexander: The veterans in the Dodgers’ clubhouse set the example

• October 4, 2026

LOS ANGELES — Yeah, go ahead and say it. The Dodgers are old. Too many years, too many additional postseason games, and sooner or later veteran canniness becomes less of an advantage as the speed and reflexes slow, right?

But there’s another way to look at it.

As the Dodgers took the lead in their National League Division Series on Saturday with a 5-3 victory over the Atlanta Braves in triple-digit heat, their veteran core of shortstop Mookie Betts, first baseman Freddie Freeman, third baseman Max Muncy and catcher Will Smith played in their 41st postseason game together. That dates to when Freeman joined the Dodgers in 2022 and encompasses four previous seasons of ups and downs, of celebratory champagne showers and quietly pondering what went wrong.

Betts has played 71 postseason games as a Dodger, dating to the 2020 short-season championship, and 92 all told between L.A. and Boston, with four rings (three as a Dodger) to show for it. Muncy has played in 80, dating to the 2018 postseason. Smith has played in 72 and been on the roster for 76, dating to 2019.

And Freeman, who left Atlanta as a free agent and joined the Dodgers in 2022, has played in 38 of 41 playoff games as a Dodger and 83 all told, given his six seasons with the Braves. He has three World Series championship rings, one in Atlanta in 2021 and the last two in L.A.

What does all of this mean?

This is a group for which the stage isn’t too big. They understand the difference between the regular season and the postseason.

“I definitely think our experience is a real competitive advantage,” Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said before Saturday’s game.

“October, this stage, it’s a lot: the emotions, the intensity of the games. So I think for the guys that have been through it and have that appreciation – you know, the game can speed up on guys. To have that experience to draw from, to be able to calm that in a way to be able to perform, I think, is really helpful.”

That preparation not only helps them get themselves ready to play, it creates an example and expectation for others. The clubhouse culture in L.A., going back to Justin Turner’s days as the unofficial captain, is one of quiet professionalism, enabling these players to either meet the moment or be honest with themselves when they don’t.

“Obviously, talent matters a lot,” Friedman continued. “But coupled with that is how guys prepare, and I marvel at walking through our clubhouse and watching the way our guys prepare – out on the field doing defensive drills, in the clubhouse watching video, talking about the pitcher, game-planning. Just everywhere you go, there are guys who are focused on what to do to help you win a game that day.

“I think to have that talent and that level of preparation is a rare thing.”

Tarik Skubal noticed that when he first got here, after being acquired in trade deadline deal with Detroit.

“I think from top to bottom, I’ve said this before, they’re very much aligned with trying to win championships,” he said during Friday’s pre-series availability. “Everybody’s got one goal at hand. I fit right in with that. I think everything that I try to do is try to win as many baseball games as I can. I’m excited to start doing that in October.”

Is the game different at this time of year? On Friday, Skubal made the observation that his approach doesn’t change, saying, “How I go out and execute and how I prepare and how I game plan and all that stuff is going to be kind of the exact same. That’s kind of what I trust in any moment.”

It worked Saturday – two hits and seven strikeouts in seven innings, with a solo home run by Sean Murphy in the sixth as one of Skubal’s few blemishes.

And there was this, as well: When a questioner noted that Skubal had hit 101 mph on a 1-and-1 four-seam fastball to Austin Riley in the second inning, he quipped: “I think I was just trying to match the temperature out there.”

He grew up in Arizona, so Saturday’s extreme heat probably brought back some memories. “I played a Little League game in 127, Lake Havasu,” he said.

Much of postseason baseball is a mental battle. It could be adapting to the atmosphere of a team that expects to win. Or it could involve the opportunity to reset following a poor stretch or a poor season.

“There’s nothing I can do of the things that (did not get) done in the past,” said outfielder Teoscar Hernández, whose two-run, 431-foot missile into the left field pavilion in the fourth inning gave the Dodgers a 2-1 lead and made everyone forget about his regular-season struggles, at least for the moment.

“For me, it’s not about … the regular season. It’s not about the September (hot streak). It’s about what can I do in an at-bat, pitch by pitch, to help this team win 10 more games this year?”

That seems to be the theme throughout the Dodgers’ clubhouse, and it’s one that the veterans pass down to everyone else.

And if this team does achieve the three-peat, that knowledge and belief and attitude – boiled down to the idea that nothing on a daily basis, from March through October and into November when necessary, is more important than winning that day’s game – will go a long way toward explaining why.

And to go for a third straight championship, and to have been in postseason play for 14 consecutive years, has as much to do with culture as with payroll size.

“The amount that goes into it, the potential things that come up throughout the course of a season with injuries and the timing of things and regression in performance – there’s so many factors that to be able to withstand the 162 games and get into October,” Friedman said.

That difficulty, that randomness, helps explain why just making the postseason or winning a playoff round, prompts a champagne-drenched celebration.

And to get to October every year? Yes, it’s talent, but it’s also experience, and preparation, and it’s the elders passing those secrets down in the clubhouse.

jalexander@scng.com

​ Orange County Register 

JSerra boys water polo falls to Cathedral Catholic in Elite 8 final

• October 4, 2026

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STUDIO CITY — The mood felt a bit somber near JSerra’s bench following the championship of the Elite 8 boys water polo tournament Saturday. Understandably, smiles from players were hard to find.

The Lions’ progress in the water, however, was easy to spot throughout the challenging three-day event.

Fourth-seeded JSerra reached its first regular-season tournament final since 2024 before falling to No. 3 Cathedral Catholic 12-9 at Harvard-Westlake High.

“As disappointing as this is, it’s a step forward,” JSerra coach Brett Ormsby said after the match. “I told (our) guys, they’ve been 5-8th (place) in all three tournaments last year. And then we were 5-8th at the South Coast (Tournament last month).”

“We’ve got to keep pushing,” the Olympian added.

JSerra (12-2) showed its drive against Cathedral Catholic (12-1) by scoring three consecutive goals in the final two minutes of the fourth period to trim the Dons’ advantage to 11-9.

Junior Christian Yonker scored on the extra man with two minutes left. Junior Dylan Park followed less than 30 seconds later with a counterattack strike off his own steal.

And after JSerra defended against a 7-on-6 chance, junior Lars Knepper scored to cut Cathedral Catholic’s lead to 11-9 with 56 seconds remaining.

The Lions’ press defense was a key part of a tournament run that included a 10-9 win against top-seeded and No. 1 ranked Newport Harbor in the semifinals Friday.

JSerra opened a 5-0 lead against Newport Harbor (11-3) but the two-time defending CIF-SS Open Division champion surged in the second half.

Knepper scored the winning goal and the Lions sealed the win by defending a 7-on-6 attack.

“We did a really good job of (pressing) yesterday,” Ormsby said. “Part of the game plan was to repeat it today, and we just didn’t go a very good job.”

Cathedral Catholic was certainly part of the reason.

The Dons found center Grayson Taylor enough that the junior could show his strength finishing and drawing exclusions.

He netted a match-high four goals, including a strike from 2 meters that gave the Dons an 11-6 cushion with 2:50 remaining in regulation.

“When you have a young man who is that big and that powerful, and has the hands, we got to do a good job of finding him,” Cathedral Catholic coach Tommy Corcoran said of Taylor, who drew two exclusions and a penalty. “Second half, we found him a little bit more.”

Cathedral Catholic also defended well in becoming the first San Diego school to claim the prestigious tournament, which began in 2016.

Goalie Luke Anderson had 10 saves and the Dons held JSerra to a 4 for 12 effort with the extra attacker. Cathedral Catholic went 4 for 9 on the man advantage.

Max Bruhn added two goals on penalty shots.

Cathedral Catholic is playing this fall without Taylor’s brother Jett, a UCLA committed senior and national team player who is competing for a team in Europe.

“A team full of warriors,” Corcoran said of his squad, which placed third at the South Coast Tournament. “They step up. Testament to the boys. Jett has lofty goals in the near-term that he’s trying to make happen. Totally support him.”

JSerra never led but tied the score twice in the first half.

The Lions had a chance to knot the score 5-5 at halftime but missed a shot in the final seconds on a 7-on-6 attempt. Cathedral Catholic’s Eamon Bruhn received the throw-in and alertly fired a full-court shot for a goal to beat the buzzer.

The Dons led 6-4 at intermission.

Half: Cathedral strikes from downtown for 6-4 lead v JSerra, huge swing pic.twitter.com/5JIw7kEFGj

— Dan Albano (@ocvarsityguy) October 3, 2026

Cathedral Catholic road the momentum into the third period but JSerra drew within 7-6 on a counterattack strike by junior Cal Ulicny.

Cathedral Catholic responded with a 4-0 run to seize control.

Knepper and Ulicny each scored twice to lead the JSerra offense. Stefan Vukojevic and Gianni Alessio split time in goal for the Lions. Ronan Keane added four steals for the Lions’ defense.

In the third-place match, Miramonte defeated Newport Harbor 16-11. The Sailors edged Miramonte 11-10 in sudden-death overtime in the finals of the South Coast Tournament.

The third and final major tournament of the regular season is the North-South Challenge on Oct. 15-16 in Northern California.

​ Orange County Register