HIGH SCHOOL ROUNDUP : Grant Gains Soccer Final Again

The Grant High girls’ soccer team advanced to its second second consecutive City Section championship game with a 2-0 semifinal victory over Granada Hills Wednesday, but the Lancers won’t be facing the team they expected in the final.

The Lancers were hoping to avenge last season’s title-match defeat to Chatsworth, but the Chancellors lost to San Pedro in the other semifinal.

Grant (11-3-2) will play the Pirates Saturday at noon at East L.A. College.

“I was sort of looking forward to the rematch,” Grant Coach John Robb said.

“But we’ll be happy to focus on San Pedro.”

Grant juniors Nicole Bucciarelli and Jamie Jacobs each scored a second-half goal at Granada Hills (10-4-1).

The Lancers and the Highlanders tied, 1-1, in Valley Conference play earlier this season and were tied again, 0-0, at halftime in their rematch.

But five minutes into the second half, Bucciarelli scored after a corner kick by Katy Walzer, and 13 minutes later assisted on Jacobs’ insurance goal.

Bucciarelli has 43 goals and 13 assists this season.

Grant goalkeeper Kristin Kiley-Boynton had six saves in registering her 10th shutout.

BOYS’ VOLLEYBALL

Canoga Park d. Sherman Oaks CES, 15-8, 15-6, 15-10--Craig Ofstead had 17 kills, nine blocks and five service aces to lead the Hunters in their season opener at Sherman Oaks.

Jason Carbonell added 34 assists for Canoga Park in the nonleague match.

Montclair Prep d. Cathedral, 15-10, 15-2, 15-12--Joey Meller had 18 kills and Bryan O’Connell made 30 assists to lead the Mounties in their nonleague season opener at Cathedral.

Carlos Rubicek led Montclair in blocks with 10, and also added 10 kills.

Van Nuys d. Eagle Rock, 15-10, 15-8, 14-16, 15-2--Hubert Kim had 11 kills and Pilman Park made seven blocks to lead the Wolves in a nonleague season opener at Van Nuys.

Dos Pueblos d. Simi Valley, 15-3, 15-6, 15-7--The Pioneers were routed in their 1994 debut. Their leading attacker produced only four kills.

BASEBALL

Van Nuys 8, Hollywood 2--Fernando Navarette went two for three to pace the Wolves’ victory over Hollywood in a round-robin game of the L.A. Invitational.

Pedro Cuervo’s two-run double keyed Van Nuys’ four-run fourth inning that gave the Wolves a 7-2 lead.

North Hollywood 13, Fairfax 6--Winning pitcher Carlos Sandoval helped his cause with a three-run triple in the Huskies’ nine-run, eight-hit fifth inning.

Three North Hollywood pitchers combined for 14 strikeouts, seven in three innings by starter Mike Delano.

Sophomore Otineal Flores (three RBIs) hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the first and Rafael Cabrera had two triples.

BOYS’ TENNIS

Loyola 13, Thousand Oaks 8--Sean Foster and Pete Gutierrez each won two of three singles matches to account for half of Thousand Oaks’ points in a nonleague match.

GIRLS’ TRACK & FIELD

Ventura 75, Camarillo 52--Amber Brown won the 100-meter high hurdles (18.1 seconds), the 300 lows (52.7) and the high jump (4 feet 10 inches) for Ventura in the nonleague season opener at Camarillo.

Stacey Higgins had the top performance for Camarillo, winning the 100 in 12.7.