Perhaps it was meant to be—that a team called the Navy Seals—would survive a driving rainstorm, cold, wind and darkness to win the Beverly Hills AYSO Region 76 Girls Under 12 championship earlier this month on the BHHS soccer field.

After defeating a strong Maroon 15 team 2-0 in the first semi-final game, the Seals advanced to play the Krushers, who defeated the Diablos by the same 2-0 score in the second semi-final game.

The Seal’s defense shone in the semi-final and championship games, led by stoppers Justine Elitzur and Scarlett Wildasin, sweeper Isabella Lopez, and outside defenders Noa Lewis, Noor Kohanim, Skyler Douek and Gillian Gurney. Right forward Alex Schirn scored both goals for the Seals in the semi-final on passes from center midfielder Jackie Schaeffer.

 The championship game was played in a driving rainstorm and fading light. The first score of the game came when the Krushers’ Lauren Jones ran down a long ball on the right side and drilled it into the back of the net. The Seals responded with a goal of their own from Schaeffer to tie that game at one all and end the half.

Weather conditions remained tough as the second half began, but both teams showed their mettle and kept playing as hard as they could. The Seals took a 2-1 lead halfway through the third quarter on Schaeffer’s second goal of the game. The play continued at a high level by both teams, with the Krushers bringing as much pressure as they could to get the equalizing goal.

The Seals res-ponded with more tough defense, led by midfielder Catie Wolfen, who marked the Krushers’ biggest threat, Zoe Krut, for the entire fourth quarter.

The Seal’s defense was aided by strong play from midfielders Dylan Brenner, Jona Yadidi, Lauren Cohen and Olivia Diamond.

The final score of the game came with eight minutes remining when the Seals sent a ball over the top of the defense to right forward Alex Schirn, who took the ball down the right side of the field against a Krusher defender and ripped a shot into the left corner of the goal to make the score 3-1, which is how the game ended and was a great was for Schirn to celebrate her birthday.

Navy Seal Coaches Rick Wolfen and Brian Schirn joined Krusher coaches Ji Lee and Jeff Gross in celebrating the game with all the girls on both teams.