Millikan Saves Best for Last Against Dana Hills

Jose Barragan stopped Forrest Smith on two breakaways in the final minutes of the second half as the Long Beach Millikan boys’ soccer team held off top-seeded Dana Hills, 1-0, to win the Southern Section Division I championship at La Mirada High.

“I was touch and go,� Millikan Coach Rod Petkovic said. “I kept waiting for the whistle to blow. That was the longest half in history.�

Smith, the Dolphins’ leading scorer, volleyed his first attempt too hard over the charging Barragan and it sailed over the crossbar in the 75th minute.

Smith’s second chance for Dana Hills (24-3-3) came only 30 seconds before the final whistle. Smith took a long pass that was lofted over the top of Millikan’s back line. Smith gathered the ball, but by the time he shot with his right foot, Barragan was there to deflect it away.

Millikan (27-1-4), which lost to Dana Hills two months ago, 3-0, scored the game’s only goal late in the first half when forward Alejandro Torres crossed the ball through two Dana Hills defenders and onto the foot of Sigifredo Orozsco, who easily beat goalkeeper Lance Friesz from 10 yards out.

Santa Ana Mater Dei 2, La Puente Nogales 0--The Monarchs (25-2-4) won their fourth Southern Section Division II title in eight years with a victory over the Nobles (23-5-3) at La Habra High.

Juan Guerrero scored in the third minute when he knocked in a loose ball off a corner kick and Matt Fennell scored on a header in the 36th minute. Second-seeded Mater Dei played Edison to a scoreless tie in last year’s title game.

Brea Olinda 0, Santa Barbara 0--The second-seeded Dons and the fourth-seeded Wildcats played to a scoreless tie in the Division III title game at La Mirada High.

Santa Barbara (27-1-4) had more chances, but Brea Olinda goalkeeper Mike Maynard had six saves, three from point-blank range. Brea Olinda (26-1-4) won its first title since 1986. Santa Barbara’s last title was in 1995.