Tustin’s girls water polo team notched one of its biggest victories of the season Saturday, setting the stage for another intriguing week in the Empire League.
Senior Angela Chacon scored from the perimeter with about 30 seconds left in sudden-death overtime to lift the host Tillers past Santa Ana Valley, 7-6, in the finals of the Katella-hosted Roy Brown Classic.
Santa Ana Valley’s Ale Barajas scored from the perimeter with one second left in regulation to force overtime.
Tustin overcame a 6-on-4 advantage by the Falcons in overtime to notch its sixth consecutive victory and build momentum for a critical week.
Tustin plays at Cypress in an Empire League match Thursday. Cypress is coming off a 7-6 victory gainst Pacifica last week in league, but the Tillers (1-0 in league) were encouraged by their results Saturday. Santa Ana Valley has defeated Cypress twice.
“Every game we get better,” Tustin first-year coach Molly Andrews said.
“We did two-a-days all summer long and we had tons of scrimmages in the fall.”
Andrews said Tustin’s offense has improved recently behind freshman Dana Twisk and junior Hannah Binder. Amy Albus also moved to goal to replace injured Kalypso Fish (finger), who is expected to return next week.
Cypress’ junior Sarah Smith scored four goals against Pacifica, including the winner, and added four steals. …
In one of the top matches this week, No. 10 Mater Dei plays host to No. 5 Orange Lutheran on Tuesday at 5 p.m. Mater Dei plays at No. 9 Santa Margarita on Thursday at 5 p.m.
DAN ALBANO
BOYS SOCCER
Something unusual happened in Lake Forest on Friday. The San Clemente boys soccer team lost a game, falling to host El Toro, 1-0. Daniel Parker scored the game-winner for the Chargers.
It was only the second time in four seasons the Tritons (12-5-3, 2-1-1) lost a South Coast League game, and the result put San Clemente in a three-way tie for first with El Toro and Mission Viejo.
Each team has five points through the first four games, but the Tritons are the only team among the leaders with a loss.
“Seems we are all having trouble scoring, but we have created our own problems,” San Clemente coach Mike Pronier said in an email. “I think we have it in us to shut teams down, but (we) need to take care of the little things. Hopefully, different result next time.”
The Tritons will be at Capistrano Valley on Thursday at 6 p.m. The Cougars (8-4-2, 1-1-2) are in fourth place.
DAMIAN DOTTORE
GIRLS SOCCER
Three matches this week feature county top-10 teams squaring off, and second-ranked Edison will be featured in two of those showdowns.
The Chargers hit the road today to take on No. 10 Los Alamitos before playing at Huntington Beach on Thursday. The third-ranked Oilers sit atop the Sunset League standings.
Three draws in four league matches has Edison (9-1-5) in third place, but with Los Alamitos and Huntington Beach on tap this week, the Chargers have an opportunity to shake up the landscape in the Sunset League.
The week’s other top-10 match pits No. 6 Canyon against No. 7 Foothill today. Both the Comanches and the Knights are unbeaten in Century Conference play, and both earned wins over Esperanza last week to position themselves atop the Crestview League.
Canyon is 5-0 since Jan. 1, and Foothill is 4-0.
KENNY CONNOLLY
GIRLS WRESTLING
Magnolia’s Arlene Hernandez finished first at 152 pounds in the Rumble in the Jungle on Saturday at El Monte High. Janeet Garcilazo (191) and Kim Roman (128) finished third and seventh, respectively, for Magnolia.
Tustin had a pair of finalists, Valeria Moreno (113) and Jasmine Cordero (145). Paloma Lopez finished seventh at 103 pounds.
Maria Alvarez (Aliso Niguel, 108), Kayla Czelusniak (Kennedy, 133) and Josahandy Moreno (Santa Ana, 139) all placed third at their weights.
Amaris Montiel (Aliso Niguel, 145), Krista Pool (Kennedy, 123) and Anahi Moreno (Santa Ana, 237) were fifth-place finishers.
DAMIAN CALHOUN
FOOTBALL
Los Alamitos running back/linebacker Denzal Brantley (6-0, 203) has committed to Idaho. Brantley rushed for 1,036 yards and 10 TDs this past season.
DAN ALBANO
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