JSerra looks to repeat as Southern Section flag

It is said that defending a championship is more durable than successful one.

That ls the problem dealing with the JSerra High flag soccer workforce this fall after the expert ladies from San Juan Capistrano accomplished a good season with a last-second aim line stand to secure their 25-20 triumph over defending champion Orange Lutheran in the Southern Section Division 1 closing last November.

The Lions defeated their Trinity League rivals 3 times on the best way to a 28-0 file in 2025 and are the preseason favorites to repeat under the steerage of Brian Ong, the reigning part coach of the yr, and USA Flag junior national workforce members Kate Meier (quarterback) and Tessa Russell (receiver/security).

Also returning is All-American quarterback Ava Van Heerde, who rotated with Meier last season to give opposing defenses suits making an attempt to resolve their contrasting but equally efficient kinds. Meier handed for 3,729 yards and 58 touchdowns as a freshman while Van Heerde (also a rising star in softball) threw for 3,460 yards and 44 touchdowns as a sophomore. They will miss throwing to their favourite goal as main receiver and Division 1 participant of the yr Ava Irwin has transferred to Sierra Canyon for its program launch.

Orange Lutheran’s only three losses last season had been to JSerra and if the Lancers are to be title contenders again they must overcome the absence of All-CIF quarterback Makena Cook (who threw for 7,083 yards and 112 touchdowns) and receiver Happy Dubois (129 receptions for 1,747 yards and 21 touchdowns), who are becoming a member of Irwin at Sierra Canyon. The Lancers also have a new coach, Dennis Hester, after Kristen Sherman announced in March that she was leaving to be an assistant under her husband, Rod Sherman, at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.

Mater Dei went 0-6 in Trinity League motion one yr in the past but has picked up two key transfers in junior quarterback Tymane Allen (who threw for 4,925 yards and 56 touchdowns for Cypress) and senior receiver/security Allyson Schmida (who caught 74 passes for 744 yards at Crean Lutheran).

Back for the Monarchs is dual-threat quarterback Kendra Hansen, who had 25 landing passes and 20 landing runs as a sophomore.

Huntington Beach received 25 of 27 video games last yr, reaching the Division 1 semifinals, and despite the commencement of All-Southern Section receiver Taylor Savage the Oilers are geared up for another deep playoff run behind quarterback Roxie Shaia (6,692 yards and 89 touchdowns), receiver Shelby Nguyen (96 catches for 1,020 yards and 21 touchdowns) and linebacker Mia Aish (133 flag pulls and eight interceptions).

Trying to dethrone the Sunset League champions can be Newport Harbor, which has quarterback Scarlett Guyser (3,371 yards and 42 touchdowns) and receiver Skylie Cid (105 catches for 1,161 yards and 11 touchdowns). Division 2 champion Corona del Mar, which brings back every starter but one, including participant of the yr Addison Stern and receivers Mia Balabanian and AnnaSofia Dickens.

Dos Pueblos went 24-3 and fell to JSerra in the Division 1 semifinals last season. The Chargers return All-Channel League defensive back Brooklyn Hedricks (203 flag pulls, 18 deflections and 14 interceptions) and receiver Ruby Streatfeild (104 catches for 1,101 yards and 18 touchdowns), who helped energy the LA Chargers Conquer membership workforce to the NFL Girls Flag National Championship in Westfield, Ind. in July.

Thanks to its high-profile transfers, Sierra Canyon may very well be the workforce to beat in the San Fernando Valley. The Trailblazers will play in the Mission League along with Harvard-Westlake, which has employed skilled flag participant and distinguished membership coach Asha Prithiraj to information the Wolverines through their inaugural season.

All-Southern Section quarterback Makena Cook transferred to Sierra Canyon after main Orange Lutheran to the Division 1 closing last season.

(Steve Galluzzo / For The Times)

In addition to new applications rising in 2026 are new guidelines, like groups having an further timeout each half (matching the three per half in sort out soccer), tighter ball-stripping restrictions, a definition for unlawful hurdling and groups giving up a security placing the ball in play via scrimmage kick from the 20-yard line. The most vital change provides a trailing workforce that has just scored the option to attempt a fourth-and-20 go from its own 20-yard line. Should the play end result in a first down, the trailing workforce retains possession. If it fails, the opponent takes over at the spot the play ended.

The Northern League seems to have supplanted the Marine League as the best in the City Section after Marshall and Eagle Rock confronted each other for the Open Division title and Franklin made the Division I semifinals last fall.

Marshall received 20-0 behind three-year beginning quarterback Jaylin Macias, whose departure provides her backup, Diana Sandoval, an alternative to run coach Shane Gerard’s offense. The Barristers can be examined by 23-game winner Wilson and Eagle Rock, which returns quarterback Nylah Moore (51 landing passes as a junior last yr) and provides Nylah’s freshman sister Cinzia.

Thirty-two Southern California groups (separated into two divisions) will take part in the fourth annual Chargers x Oakley Invitational on Friday and Saturday at the Jack Hammett Sports Complex in Costa Mesa.

Friday’s pool play matchups embrace Sierra Canyon-Long Beach Poly; JSerra-Camarillo; Newport Harbor-Aliso Niguel; Huntington Beach-Redondo Union; Oxnard-Orange Lutheran; Woodbridge-Ventura; Dos Pueblos-Classical Academy; Cypress-Agoura; Warren-St. Margaret’s;and Westlake-Torrey Pines.

Corona del Mar High’s AnnaSofia Dickens runs the ball against Westlake in last season’s Southern Section Division 2 closing at El Modena.

(Steve Galluzzo / For The Times)

Teams to Watch this season

JSerra, Huntington Beach, Sierra Canyon, Orange Lutheran, Newport Harbor, Corona del Mar, Trabuco Hills, Dos Pueblos, Camarillo, Santa Margarita, Lakewood St. Joseph, Westlake, Anaheim Canyon, Upland, San Marcos, Mater Dei, Etiwanda, Ventura, Downey, Newbury Park.

Players to Watch this season

Ava Irwin, WR/DB Sierra Canyon
Makena Cook, QB, Sierra Canyon
Kate Meier, QB, JSerra
Tessa Russell, WR/DB, JSerra
Addison Stern, QB, Corona del Mar
Olivia Elsokary, WR/DB, Westlake
Ava Van Heerde, QB, JSerra
Scarlett Guyser, QB/DB, Newport Harbor
Happy Dubois, WR/DB, Sierra Canyon
Brooklyn Hedricks, WR/DB, Dos Pueblos
London Lefler, QB/WR/DB Newbury Park
Skylie Cid, RB, Newport Harbor
Roxie Shaia, QB, Huntington Beach
Mia Balabanian, Corona del Mar
Tymane Allen, QB, Mater Dei
Mia Aish, LB, Huntington Beach
Madeline Garcia, QB, Downey
Sadie Olivares, WR/DB, Edison
Leah Vanderveen, WR/S, Mission Viejo
Nylah Moore, QB, Eagle Rock
AnnaSofia Dickens, WR/LB, Corona del Mar

Quarterback Nylah Moore will attempt to go Eagle Rock back to the City Section Open Division flag soccer championship recreation.

(Steve Galluzzo / For The Times)