Buchanan High hit the post, blasted over the cage, missed just left and, in general, was dominating behind the magical ball control of Kacey Held.

The opposing coach, Danny Polmounter of Sultana-Hesperia, watched in awe: "We have great soccer down here [in Southern California], but their forwards, their skill level -- it's out of this world."

Yet, soccer being soccer, the top-seeded Bears -- ranked sixth nationally in two polls -- found themselves in a scoreless tie with the No. 8 Sultans early in the second half of the Southern California Regional opener Tuesday at Tice Park.

If it's football, Buchanan leads 21-0.

If it's basketball, it's 40-20.

If it's baseball, it's 6-0.

But it's soccer, and it's 0-0.

Not that Polmounter was encouraged: "We were able to hang, hang and hang, but it was only a matter of time before they were going to break through."

Sure enough, Held expertly set up Elise Krieghoff twice and the sophomore found the back of the net -- the first, upper right; the second, lower left -- in the 51st and 63rd minutes as Buchanan advanced with a 2-0 victory over the Southern Section Division IV champion.

"We connect so well together, I don't even need to talk to her or look at her, I just know she's going to be there," Held said of her harmony with Krieghoff.

"I was getting a little bit concerned," Krieghoff said, "but I knew Kasey and I would get it done -- we actually always do."

Such is the assurance of a 27-0-1 team that will march into a regional semifinal one year after it lost 3-2 to San Clemente in the championship.

Thursday, the Bears will return to Tice Park across the street from Clovis West -- a state-qualified venue because it has lights -- for a rematch with San Clemente, which beat El Camino Real-Woodland Hills 1-0.

"I feel like it was another good, solid performance, offensively and defensively," said coach Erik Farfan, who is 166-20-18 in seven years at Buchanan and 132-7-10 in the past three. "I'm happy our girls are moving on and keeping the season going."

For all the attention that has followed Held (31 goals, 29 assists) and Krieghoff (34-15), Farfan continues to be progressively pleased with his defense, which has recorded seven straight shutouts.

"Defense is the unsung hero of this season," he said, citing goalie Angie Neathery and backliners Danika Robinson, Jasmine Alvarez, Emily Fernandez and Colleen Moyotasu.