ALISO VIEJO – “Run and gun” isn’t necessarily an expression thrown around the soccer community a whole lot.
Loaded with speed and quality depth up and down his roster, though, it’s exactly the type of pace Aliso Niguel coach Randy Dodge encourages his team to play at.
That tempo was on display Thursday night.
Victoria Carrillo and Lauren Miller each scored a goal a piece to help guide the top-ranked Wolverines past Corona, 2-0, in an Aliso Cup match at Aliso Niguel High.
“We just wore them down,” Dodge explained. “That’s what it came down to.”
With wins over both Orange Lutheran and Corona in the pool play stage, the Wolverines (3-0) advance to Saturday’s quarterfinal round.
Early in the game, it looked as if the Panthers (4-1) would be able to give Aliso some problems, as they dictated the game’s pace in the opening 15 minutes. All three of goalkeeper Megan Groothuis’ saves came over that span with the Wolverines struggling to maintain possession early.
A few minor formational changes combined with a group of substitutes saw the game’s outlook change almost immediately.
The Wolverines dominated possession over the final 65 minutes of play, and grabbed the initial lead in the 31st minute when Miller sent a low, centering pass into the box to an unmarked Carrillo who booted the ball in the back of the net.
Miller added a goal of her own in the 80th minute. When Corona was unable to clear an Aliso corner kick, it was the senior captain who came in and blasted a shot from 6 yards out that split a group of Panthers defenders, doubling the Wolverines lead.
“Lauren Miller did a really good job for us today,” Dodge added. “She really dictated a lot of things for us. Proud that she got that second goal. She deserved it.”
Also in the Aliso Cup Tournament:
Chino Hills 2, No. 4 Sunny Hills 0: Two games into the season and the Lancers are still without a goal. After a scoreless first half, the Huskies scored two goals in the final 40 minutes of play, advancing to Saturday’s quarterfinal round.
Newport Harbor 1, No. 5 Corona del Mar 0: Sianna Seimonsma’s first-half goal proved to be the difference in an otherwise tight game between these two county rivals.
In the Butch Lee Classic:
No. 10 Mater Dei 3, Rancho Bernardo of San Diego 0: Josselyn Cabrera scored two goals, while Lauren Markwith added two assists and a goal of her own in the Monarchs shutout victory over the Broncos in the San Diego-based tourney.
In nonleague action:
No. 2 Santa Margarita 1, Mission Viejo 1: The Diablos’ Boo Simonian and the Eagles’ Chloe Boice each netted second-half goals as the two South County powers battled to an early-season draw at Mission Viejo High.
