ALISO VIEJO- Through the first four matches of the Aliso Cup tournament, the host Aliso Niguel girls’ soccer team has played like a team fully intent on getting back their tournament’s championship cup.
The only team left standing in the way of the Wolverines reclaiming their tournament title is the team that took it away from them last season.
Lauren Miller and Sarah Roberts each tallied a goal, as No. 1 Aliso Niguel shutout Troy, 2-0, in a semifinal match Saturday.
The Wolverines (5-0) have yet to allow a goal this season.
“These matches have been stepping stones for us and we just have to continue to get better,” Wolverines coach Randy Dodge said. “Both us and Sunny Hills are defensive-minded, direct, and disciplined teams and it will be a great championship game.”
Aliso Niguel will host Sunny Hills in Monday’s championship.
It was the Lancers who defeated the Wolverines in penalty kicks to win the tournament last season.
“We always want to win no matter who we play, Roberts said. “It is our tournament and we want our title back.”
Aliso Niguel established heavy attacking pressure from the outset and took a 1-0 lead in the 16th minute, as Roberts sent a well-placed pass down the middle of the field for Miller, who booted a left-footed shot into the far post corner of the goal.
“Sarah has a knack for being able to play the ball to the right spot,” Miller said. “I’m not typically a left-footed player, but I hit it with my left foot and figured that hitting it to the far post was a good way to go.”
The Wolverines controlled possession throughout the match with quick, well-timed passes into open spaces in the Warriors’ defense.
Aliso Niguel also produced 19 shots on goal.
“Our holding midfielders did a great job of winning the ball and distributing,” Roberts said. “It’s much easier to play when you have people behind you that you know can clear it up so that we could attack.”
Roberts got in on the scoring in the 44th minute, as she received a pass from Taita Dumbadse and blasted a shot into the far post corner of the goal.
“Aliso Niguel is big, fast, and strong and brought a lot of pressure that we struggled with,” Warriors coach Ed Kephart said. “This tournament was a good learning experience and we will figure out what we need to do better.”
