EL SEGUNDO HERALD March 8, 2018 Page 5
Eagles Boys Soccer Wins CIF Title
By Gregg McMullin
Move over, baseball and softball programs…
Step aside, water polo and swim squads…
Move to one side, basketball team… Let us
through, volleyball teams…
It’s all because there’s another CIF championship
banner about to be hoisted in the boys
gym at El Segundo High School. Yes the El
Segundo Eagles boys soccer team won the
school’s first soccer CIF championship with
a 2-0 win over Hesperia to capture the CIF
Southern Section Division 5 championship.
The Eagles had a historic season that saw them
start with a 3-3-3 record in their first nine games.
Once Ocean League started, things were
noticeably different and the adversity of
injuries to key players were finely healed.
The Eagles ended up finishing second in
the Ocean League even though they were
the highest scoring team.
The Eagles saved their best soccer for the
playoffs. Before the championship game,
head coach Andrew Kelly pointed out that
the team had peaked at the right time. “The
boys have really pulled it together and we are
playing the best soccer right now,” he said.
It wasn’t an easy road to the championship
game for the Eagles even if they outscored
their opponents 11-6 in the first four games.
They defeated four league champions, including
fourth-seeded Baldwin Park, before
getting to the pinnacle of the season. They
were challenged by the long drive to Vista
Murrieta in a win on penalty kicks. They
forged through a chilly game on the road
that saw a light dusting of snow against
Oak Hills from Hesperia and an eventual
2-1 win to reach the final. In the final, El
Segundo would face a Hesperia team that
had outscored playoff opponents 9-1 and
was on a seven-game win streak.
The Eagles arrived at Corona High School,
site of the CIF finals, in style: on a luxury
bus. It was a fitting mode of transportation and
maybe an omen reserved for championship
teams. The weather cooperated and the rain
stopped prior to game time. After the teams’
individual introductions, it was game time.
In the first half, the Eagles and the Scorpions
seemed to feel each other out. The Eagles had
three good opportunities at scoring, but came
away empty. Malcolm Holtzmann-Cisse took
a pass and tried a header at the net saved by
Scorpion goaltender Adrian Gallardo.
The Scorpions were on the attack and the
ball was down deep. They had three shots
during a scrum for the ball where two of
the shots were blocked and a final one was
caught by Eagle goaltender James Amerault.
El Segundo had numerous shots on goal,
but came away empty. Eagle forward Tyler
Villalobos blasted a scoring attempt that
came agonizingly close, but landed over the
crossbar. Two minutes later, Villalobos’ header
at the net went wide. Holtzmann-Cisse had a
shot attempt blocked and Sam Twigg took a
pass from Jack Finders, who tried a header
in front of the goal that Gallardo stopped.
El Segundo used its decided size and
athletic prowess to control the tempo of the
second half. The Eagles put up nine shots
on goal and pressured the Scorpions on their
side of the field throughout. Twigg’s shot
nearly found the back of the net. Villalobos
pounded a shot on goal that went wide,
while Christophe Charles had a shot attempt
deflected inside.
El Segundo found another scoring attempt
and this time it paid off. While the Eagles
were pressing the ball up front, Denis Vezina
fed Ciaran Feeney with a pass and Feeney
obliged with a header out of reach of the
goalie and into the net. The large contingent
Lance Giroux from front page
Lance Giroux.
Although we must continue to be proactive
and fiscally responsible in addressing pension
debt, we cannot lose sight of the fact that
emergency services are an essential part of
our city and quality of life. I will work with
our city personnel and the appropriate public
safety representatives to ensure that we have a
sustainable plan to keep our community safe.
What is one agenda item you would personally
bring to the Council for consideration,
if elected?
LG: I would like to propose an electric bike
sharing program with pick-up and drop-off
locations at various El Segundo business and
hotel locations and our neighboring beach cities
along the coast. This could bring in revenue
from rentals, ease parking and traffic issues in
town, and bring additional customers to our
downtown businesses. The program is environmentally
friendly and supports healthy living.
Public Safety: How are we doing and
what should improve?
LG: We must continue to support and
enhance these essential services and address
the staffing issues we are facing so we can
continue to have a safe environment for the
residents. We have two new chiefs who bring
unique perspectives from their vast experiences
outside of El Segundo. I will seek out their
advice and strategy as experts in their fields
to guide us in the right direction.
Seniors: Are we taking care of our seniors?
What else should we do?
LG: Our seniors have helped shape and
grow El Segundo into the place we all call
home -- and while the City currently provides a
rich array of services and activities to enhance
quality of life for our seniors, it is critical to
keep asking what more we can do. I will host
quarterly forums with seniors to hear directly
what’s working, what can be improved upon,
and what else would maximize quality of life.
The City: Are the City and current council
going in the right direction in meeting the
service needs of residents and businesses?
LG: I feel residents’ needs are being addressed,
though those needs are ever-evolving.
From our children to our seniors, we must
always take the proper steps to better support
our community’s needs. In addition, we have
an incredible opportunity to leverage current
interest in our town by addressing the needs
of our downtown business owners. Through
infrastructure updates, resolving zoning obstacles,
and exploring effective and creative
marketing campaigns, we can help them succeed
into the future.
Priorities: How should our local government
be spending/prioritizing taxpayer
money?
LG: Our tax dollars should be directed where
they will have the most positive impact on the
lives of our residents. Infrastructure like functioning
elevators; highly maintained parks and
quality rec programs; family-friendly concerts
in the park; and an IT system for services that
make our day to day lives rich and fulfilling.
Downtown: What would you do to boost
business in downtown El Segundo?
LG: I will work closely with EDAC, our economic
development manager, and the business
owners to come up with a comprehensive plan
that will allow our downtown to thrive into the
future. Marketing and advertising our downtown
businesses will help attract new customers and
bring attention to what we have to offer. We
also need to address current zoning restrictions
that are potentially an obstacle to growth. We
must set our businesses up for success.
Smoky Hollow: How should we revitalize
that district?
LG: Smoky Hollow has vast potential in
terms of possible mixed-use residential and
creative business workspaces. More people living
in that area means more residual business
customers, families with children who would
attend ESUSD schools, and other potential
revenues streams. I recommend creation of a
pilot plan encompassing a small area where
we can collaboratively study the possible gains
and potential downsides of such development
before proceeding with a larger master plan.
Positions on Key Topics
On TopGolf coming to The Lakes site or
elsewhere in town:
LG: I appreciate both sides of the discussion,
but feel TopGolf brings a missing element
to our business community…entertainment.
TopGolf has a proven business model built
for sustained success that translates into a
consistent and lucrative revenue source for
the City for many years to come. However,
we should also respect the RFP (request for
proposal) process we have in place and be
open to any other opportunities that arise for
The Lakes location.
On the regulation of short-term residential
rentals:
LG: Short-term residential rentals, when
managed properly, can be a profitable source
of secondary income and have a positive effect
on our city thru positive word of mouth and
local businesses that profit from renters who
shop and dine locally. To minimize negative
experiences associated with short-term rentals,
the City can regulate this practice like any
other business in town by mandating business
licenses, fire and safety inspection certificates,
and requirements for off-street parking.
On residential housing east of Sepulveda:
Should the Council make the decision on
that or should local residents via the ballot?
LG: I have many deep concerns on this issue.
This rezoning could fundamentally change
the city as we know it. I believe transparency
and thoughtful actions must accompany any
proposed change that could have such a longlasting
impact on the entire make-up of our
community. While I feel elected officials are
put in office to make decisions for the city, I
support putting this issue before voters due to
the potential strain on emergency services, usage
of valuable commercial space, and effectively
creating two sides of the city.
On the Measure C sales tax increase:
LG: This is a pre-emptory tax that will
only be imposed if LA County puts a similar
measure on their ballot. A “yes” vote will allow
us to keep the majority of revenue in our
city. A “no” vote puts us at risk of having to
pay this tax with little to no benefit to us. With
this in mind, I support Measure C.
The City is looking at budget deficits in
the years to come. Should the Council look
to raise other taxes/ask residents to pay for
trash/increase fees for services?
LG: I do not believe that this is an effective
long-term strategy to deal with the financial
burdens we are facing. Increased fees are a big
strain on our resident’s budgets, and especially
those who are retired or are on fixed incomes.
On the City’s pension liability. What
should we do?
LG: We must continue to look at creative
ways to manage this issue. City officials and
the appropriate labor representatives must work
together to limit our liability while insuring we
maintain and enhance our level of public safety.
On dealing with LAX growth and your
thoughts about the City’s relationship and
recent agreement with LAWA:
LG: LAX continues to grow and is now the
fourth busiest airport in the world. The recent
See Lance Giroux, page 13
The Eagles celebrate their historic CIF championship. Photo by Gregg McMullin
See Eagles, page 11
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