Paloma Girls Soccer Team Makes State Tournament

Bailey Calhoun (7) and her Paloma Valley teammates will face Santiago High in the girls soccer state playoffs on Tuesday.

The season is not over for the Paloma Valley High School girls soccer team.

A day after losing in double overtime to Temescal Canyon in the CIF Southern Section Division 6 finals on Saturday, the Wildcats learned they have qualified for the CIF State playoffs. Paloma will play Tuesday at 4 p.m. at Santiago High in Corona in a Division I first-round game.

Paloma Valley (14-8-4) went undefeated in Sunbelt League play this season and advanced to the CIF Southern Section finals with four consecutive shutout victories. The Wildcats' loss to league rival Temescal Canyon was their first after a win and tie against the Titans earlier in the season. The teams could not meet again in the state tournament however, because Temescal has been placed in the Division II bracket.

Santiago will be a formidable opponent for Paloma Valley. The Sharks are 23-1-8 this season after winning the CIF Southern Section Division 2 title over Oaks Christian 2-0 on Saturday.

"We weren’t sure if we were going to get into the state tournament because the number of teams that are selected are smaller and the way the divisions are done are different," said Paloma Valley coach Marie Dillon. "Santiago is an excellent team and most of their players play on high level club teams, so we are definitely the underdog.

"The fact that we get to extend our season gave the girls something to look forward to. I’m sure the team is still disappointed in their loss on Saturday, but we will just have to get our focus back and make the most of this opportunity that most players, teams and coaches dream of."

The winner of Tuesday's game will advance to the second round on Thursday against the winner of the Cypress-Torrey Pines game. The championship game of the eight-team tournament will take place on Saturday.