IRVINE – Stars are made under the bright lights on big stages.
As much as he would like stars, Esperanza girls soccer coach John King wants hard workers.
Calling for a “blue-collar” effort, King saw his team put in a full day’s work. The Aztecs won a pair of penalty-kick shootouts on Wednesday to take the prestigious Excalibur Tournament title at Great Park.
Esperanza defeated Xavier of Phoenix before taking down Cathedral Catholic of San Diego, 3-1, in the championship match.
“I got everything,” a choked up King said after the Aztecs (5-3-4) won their first Excalibur crown. “I just asked them to play together, to be committed to defending, and when we get our chances, to finish them. We did that.”
“The one goal (we allowed) in the whole tournament was off a set piece. My hat’s off to my goalie and everyone committed to defending throughout the whole tournament.”
The Aztecs and Gators (7-0-2) were scoreless after extra time in the semis. Esperanza won the shootout, 4-2, with Ally Boots providing the decisive marker.
“I just came up to it confident,” said Boots, who found the right corner. “I know which side I go, and I didn’t want to switch it.”
Goalkeeper Melissa Weck was outstanding in the title game. She made 16 saves, including two in the shootout against Olivia Erlbeck and Katya Pourteymour.
Esperanza reached the Excalibur final last year, when they lost to Tesoro, 3-1. The Aztecs came out flying in their shot at redemption. Boots found KC Cook on a shallow cross to put Esperanza up, 1-0, in the fifth minute.
Cathedral Catholic (8-2-2) gave the Aztecs trouble on the counterattack. A 30-yard free kick by Erlbeck in the 45th minute tied it at one. Weck was dynamic late in regulation and in the shootout.
“You don’t think about it,” Weck said of the workload. “You just react. When it comes down to game day, you have to produce.”
