ARGOS - Teams want to peak during the playoffs. The Culver Girls Academy soccer squad might not have reached that peak yet, but they are sure playing well.

The Eagles continued their strong late-season push by claiming the Argos Sectional crown with an impressive 3-0 win over the host Dragons Saturday night at Eugene Snyder Field.

CGA regularly starts its season two weeks after most area high schools and was sitting with a 3-3-3 mark less than a month ago. But after this weekend's textbook win over Argos, the Lady Eagles have now won eight of their last nine (the other a 1-1 tie to sectional finalist and South Bend powerhouse St. Joseph's) riding into Wednesday night's South Bend Riley Regional.

“I'm so proud of my team. It was a total team effort,” said head coach Harry Canellakis. “I have a lot of respect for Argos and their program. We are just trying to emulate them.”

Argos and CGA went to penalty kicks during the regular season meeting between the two Marshall County rivals, with the Dragons eventually winning 3-2. But the Eagles were clearly the team in control this time, possessing the ball for large chunks of time, mostly in Argos territory.

“CGA is a very good possession team. That is definitely their strength,” said Argos head coach Jon Alcorn, whose team started up to eight freshmen and sophomores during its fine 13-5-1 season. “Overall, I'm very satisfied with how we played. We just had a couple of mistakes.”

CGA went into the halftime break with a 1-0 lead thanks to a rebound goal by Emma Clark in the 36th minute. The junior shot from close range only to have it blocked by Argos keeper Brooke Kimsey, but the rebound came right back to Clark, who guided it into the back of the net.

“She is just a complete player,” Canellakis said about his forward. “She can score, but we also put her in the midfield to mark their best player.”

Clark scored again 13 minutes into the second half when Jenna Iwaniec, standing in the middle of the field near the 18, headed a long ball towards the goal and Clark was able to redirect it past Kimsey.

With shot attempts few and far between for Argos (one in the second half, three total for the game), the 2-0 lead seemed insurmountable at the time. Then 10 minutes later, the Lady Eagles left no doubt about the final outcome when Kelly Alyea tapped in a rebound after a well-placed restart by Iwaniec.

The best chance for an Argos goal came with just under six minutes remaining, but CGA keeper Olabisi Ibrahim dived to her right to corral Amberly O'Dell's 25-yard attempt.

“We are usually a better offensive team, but we had trouble getting the ball out wide,” added Alcorn. “I thought our girls played well though.”

CGA (11-3-4) will now meet 10th-ranked Mishawaka Marian (16-3), a 1-0 winner over St. Joe's in the Riley Sectional final. The regional will be played at Jackson Middle School in South Bend, beginning at 7 p.m.

CULVER GIRLS ACADEMY 3, ARGOS 0
Sectional final
At Argos
CGA - Emma Clark 36th min.
CGA - Clark (Jenna Iwaniec) 53rd min.
CGA - Kelly Alyea (Iwaniec) 63rd min.
Shots on Goal: Argos 3; CGA 7
Saves: Argos 4 (Brooke Kimsey, Katie Beason); CGA 3 (Olabisi Ibrahim)
Corner Kicks: Argos 3; CGA 3
Fouls: Argos 15; CGA 22
Yellow Cards: Argos 1 (Amberly O'Dell); CGA 1 (Madeleine Balchan).
Records: Argos 13-5-1 (final); CGA 11-3-4.