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Browse by City/ StateXavier Prep shakes up DVL girls soccer standings
PALM DESERT -- The Xavier Prep High School girls' soccer team ended its regular season on an ideal note Tuesday.
Xavier College Prep's Marina Olvera and Palm Springs' America Ramirez fight for the ball Tuesday in a Desert Valley League match. Xavier Prep won 1-0.
And it jumbled the race for the Desert Valley League title as a result.
The Saints shut out Palm Springs 1-0 at home, and they now must wait until Friday to learn their fate in the DVL. They still have a chance, along with the Indians, La Quinta and Palm Desert, to win the league crown.
Xavier Prep (11-6-2, 8-3-1) knocked off the Indians for the first time in school history, a feat that was especially sweet for the team's seven seniors.
"This is the night we've been waiting for," senior Gabby Baez said.
The Saints scored in the 18th minute off of senior midfielder Lien Le's corner kick. Junior forward Marina Olvera scored when she redirected a shot from junior midfielder Chanel Monica.
Palm Springs (12-7-3, 7-2-2) had several scoring chances, including a header by freshman forward Nicole Graham that glanced off the crossbar in the 51st minute.
But the Saints controlled possession for the majority of the game. They kept pressuring Palm Springs and almost scored again in the closing minutes. Saints senior goalkeeper Brandi Wegerle made five saves.
"Absolutely from start to finish, they wanted that game more than we did," Indians coach Deb Cormier said. "We don't come to play every game, and it shows with the record that we have right now."
The teams tied in their first meeting. Xavier Prep coach Susan St. Louis believed her players weren't as intimidated by the Indians' aggressive style of play in the rematch.
"I think the tendency for a lot of teams when they play Palm Springs is they get a little bit back on their heels, a little tentative," St. Louis said.
The victory was bittersweet for the Saints' seven seniors, who might have played their final home game.
St. Louis praised those four-year varsity players for the Saints -- Baez, Le, Wegerle, Lauren Beaudin, Sophie DeChristopher, Mayra Esparza and Katie McNulty -- who all suited up as freshmen three years ago because no seniors attended the new school at the time.
With a bye Friday, the Saints (8-3-1 DVL) will prepare for the CIF playoffs while other teams determine who wins the DVL title.
First-place La Quinta (8-3) is in control. It will win the title outright with a victory on the road at Palm Desert (7-3-1).
If the Blackhawks lose or tie, Palm Springs (7-2-2) would claim the title with a victory over Cathedral City on the road.
Xavier Prep would share the DVL title with Palm Desert with an Aztecs' victory coupled with an Indians' loss or tie. The Saints would split the crown with La Quinta with a Blackhawks' tie coupled with an Indians' loss or tie.
No matter what transpires, Cormier hopes the tight race is a promising sign for the postseason.
"I hope that we're playing so strong against each other in league that when we go to CIF we have a strong showing," she said.
