Esperanza Takes Control of Race for Title

In the topsy-turvy world of Sunset League girls’ soccer, control of the league title race changed hands again, as Esperanza defeated Marina, 3-1, Tuesday at Esperanza.

Marina (16-7-3, 6-2-1), ranked sixth in the county, needed only a tie to remain in first and a victory would have clinched the title. However, No. 7 Esperanza (15-6-2, 7-2) is back in first place and a victory Thursday over Fountain Valley--a team it beat, 3-0, in the first round--will give Esperanza its first Sunset title.

“I liked our position coming in today, being a point down in the standings,” Esperanza Coach Trevor Ickes said. “There’s a little more incentive.”

Esperanza took a brief lead nine minutes into the game when senior Janelle Raaf got the ball off a throw-in and a flick, and sent a shot into the upper corner of the goal.

Less than a minute later, Viking sophomore Erin Droeger was taken down in the box and on the ensuing penalty kick, placed a shot perfectly into the upper corner of the goal, tying the score at 1-1.

With five minutes remaining in the half, sophomore Adrienne Lindsey put the Aztecs up for good with a goal.

Things went from bad to worse in the second half for the Vikings. Esperanza senior Laura Watts sailed a free kick from midfield to Allison Moreland on the wing. Moreland came in on a slant and knocked the ball into the corner for a 3-1 Aztec lead with 15 minutes remaining.

Moments later, the Vikings suffered another blow when sophomore Heather Kindschi punched Aztec senior Erin Clewett in the side of the face. Kindschi was given a red cardand will be ineligible for the Vikings’ final regular-season game against Los Alamitos on Thursday.

In other Sunset League games:

Edison 3, Fountain Valley 0--Brooke Thulin had a goal and an assist to lead host Edison (15-5-5, 4-3-2), which clinched third place.

Huntington Beach 2, Los Alamitos 1--Theresa Tocco scored two first-half goals for visiting Huntington Beach (4-7-2, 1-7-1).