Birmingham Pulls Together, Beats Kennedy in Overtime

VAN NUYS â€”  Moments after the Birmingham High girls’ soccer team beat visiting Kennedy, 3-2, in overtime of a City Section 3-A Division quarterfinal Friday, Coach Jerry Seliga attributed part of his team’s success to . . . milk and cookies.

It seems the Braves were not happy in January and February, despite winning the West Valley League title and being seeded sixth in the playoffs.

“The kids are finally having fun with each other,� Seliga said. “We’ve gone through some jealousies and infighting.�

Last week, a Birmingham assistant coach brought the team together in a school classroom for milk and cookies in hopes of smoothing over any hard feelings.

“It was like a morgue in there at first,� Seliga said. “But slowly they started talking.�

Friday, Birmingham worked together to overcome a 2-1 deficit in the second half and set up a semifinal match Tuesday against Cleveland. Kris Oakes scored in the 52nd minute to tie the match and Nuria Vanegas scored the winner 12 minutes into overtime.

Birmingham (14-4-1) took a 1-0 lead on its first shot when sweeper Erin Smith, at the top of the penalty area, volleyed in a corner kick by Rachelle Seliga in the fifth minute.

Kennedy (13-6) tied the match 21 minutes later when Nikki Hagouel crossed the ball to a wide-open Jennifer Bernson in front of the goal. Bernson got off a weak left-footed shot and the ball rolled up Brave goalkeeper Amy Demetrion and under the crossbar.

Six minutes after halftime, the Golden Cougars took a 2-1 lead when Bernson scored on another Hagouel cross.

Oakes, Birmingham’s standout forward, scored her 37th goal of the season to tie the match, 2-2.

Shadowed by Kennedy’s Laura Robins and jostled by defenders nearly every time she touched the ball, Oakes broke free long enough to gather a pass from Stacie Singer at the top of the penalty area and scored on a low, 10-yard shot.

With eight minutes remaining in the 20-minute overtime, a 30-yard free kick by Smith bounced off Kennedy goalkeeper Angelique Fontes and into a crowd of players on the goal line. Vanegas scored in the scramble.

Birmingham avenged a 9-2 loss to league rival Kennedy in the teams’ last meeting. The Golden Cougars were second in league.

“In that game people weren’t passing to each other and some of them said they didn’t care if we lost,� Oakes said. “But we had some meetings and talked things out so we could play as a team on the field.�