Del Norte, Mt. Carmel Claim CIF San Diego Section Soccer Titles

Del Norte boys and Mt. Carmel girls win championships in thrilling fashion

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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In a weekend of dramatic finishes, Del Norte High School and Mt. Carmel High School emerged victorious in the CIF San Diego Section Open Division soccer championships. Del Norte defeated defending champions St. Augustine 1-0 in the boys' final, while Mt. Carmel secured the girls' title after a nail-biting penalty shootout against San Marcos.

Why it matters

These championship wins signal potential shifts in the landscape of San Diego Section high school soccer, with Del Norte's victory demonstrating the growing competitiveness of programs outside of traditional powerhouses, and Mt. Carmel's resilience in the penalty shootout highlighting the increasing importance of mental fortitude and goalkeeping prowess in high-stakes games.

The details

Del Norte's winning goal came in the 22nd minute, with Andre Lopez capitalizing on a rebound after Jared Baza's initial shot was saved. In the girls' final, the match went to penalties after a scoreless 95 minutes, with Mt. Carmel emerging victorious 5-4 after a crucial save from goalkeeper Nina Hinchman.

  • The boys' championship was held on February 28, 2026.
  • The girls' championship was held on the same weekend.

The players

Andre Lopez

The Del Norte player who scored the winning goal in the boys' final.

Jared Baza

The Del Norte player whose shot led to the rebound that Lopez scored on.

Aiden Swearinger

The St. Augustine goalkeeper who initially saved Baza's shot before Lopez scored the rebound.

Nina Hinchman

The Mt. Carmel goalkeeper who made the decisive save in the penalty shootout to secure the girls' championship.

Ellery Muren

The Mt. Carmel player who scored the winning penalty in the shootout.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee (Instagram)

The takeaway

These championship wins highlight the growing competitiveness and tactical flexibility of San Diego high school soccer programs, as well as the increasing importance of mental toughness and goalkeeping prowess in determining the outcomes of high-stakes matches.