Kennedy Wesley a special leader for Valley Christian girls soccer

CERRITOS >> Kennedy Wesley is your typical teenager. She enjoys shopping, especially for clothes and shoes in particular. She enjoys going to the beach and hanging out with her friends, among other things. Wesley is also one of the nation’s top high school soccer players, having been on four U.S. National teams, including her current status on the U-17 team.

The success that Wesley has had representing her country — she was named to the 2016 CONCACAF U-17 Women’s Championship Best 11 team after helping the U.S. win a World Cup qualifying touament in Grenada — has also transpired with top-seeded Valley Christian High School (23-3-3), which will host San Gabriel Mission in the semifinals of the CIF Southe Califoia Division V Regional Soccer Championships at 4 p.m. on Thursday.

Wesley has received high praise from Crusaders coach Kim Looney.

“Her energy and passion for the game of soccer comes out of her and goes into her teammates,” Looney said. “The harder Kennedy works, the harder the team works.”

Wesley had two goals and one assist in the Crusaders’ CIF Southe Section championship game victory over Grace Brethren Saturday.

Wesley leads the team with 19 goals and is second with nine assists.

Growing up however, soccer wasn’t Wesley’s favorite sport until she was 13.

“I was a gymnast and a soccer player and most of that time gymnastics was my favorite,” Wesley said. “I realized that I wasn’t very good at gymnastics and then soccer became more of my thing.”

As Wesley played more, she got better and the U.S. Olympic Development Program reached out while she was plaging for the So Cal Blues.

“They were impressed with the way I played and the way I was able to work well with my teammates and I got called into the initial pool,” Wesley said.

During her time with the U.S. National teams, Wesley has been able to speak with a players such as two-time Olympic gold medalist Mia Hamm.

“She was full of insight on how to get to the highest level and maintain a position there,” Wesley said. “It was incredible to speak with her.”

Wesley has played in a lot of touaments with a USA jersey, but one touey sticks out from the rest.

“My most favorite soccer moment ever was winning the U17 CONCACAF qualifying touament in Grenada last March,” she said. “There, we won the touament and clinched a spot in the U17 World Cup. I was fortunate enough to represent the USA and those games were truly the greatest games of my life.”

Division II

La Mirada (22-5-2) chanted “We want Moorpark” after its Division II overtime win on Tuesday at El Camino Real and it will get its wish Thursday in the semifinals. The Musketeers (24-1-2) beat the Matadores in the CIF-SS Division 2 final on Saturday. The teams will be meeting for the fifth time in the past three years in the playoffs.

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Boys soccer Division I

Paramount (21-5-2) is the No. 6 seed in the region and visits No. 2 Granada Hills Charter (26-4-2) in the semifinal round Thursday. The Highlanders, who haven’t lost since Jan. 11, won the CIF L.A. City Section Division I title and beat Palos Verdes 2-1 in the regional opener on Tuesday. Granada Hills Charter has three players with 10 or more goals.

- JJ Fiddler