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Associate mug of Kenny Connolly, Anaheim reporter.

Date shot: 12/31/2012 . Photo by KATE LUCAS /  ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

Their post-goal celebrations typically took place inside the 18-yard box or during the trot back to the center circle.

On Wednesday night, though, Aliso Niguel senior Lauren Miller knew she had to make a slight detour before heading back to her side of the pitch following her first goal of the match.

Standing along the sideline was her injured teammate, Sarah Roberts, crutches pointed to the sky in excitement, awaiting the embrace from her fellow senior.

Miller wound up making two sideline stops by game’s end, netting a pair of goals in the Wolverines’ 3-0 South Coast League win over Dana Hills at home.

Top-ranked Aliso (16-2-1, 6-1-1) captured its second straight league crown with the victory and seemingly locked up the top seed in the CIF-SS Division 1 playoffs that begin next week.

“Pressure was on, we had to perform,” Wolverines coach Randy Dodge said. “We go from possibly being the No. 1 seed to not even being seeded in CIF if we lose this game. … You just hope it keeps going when we go into CIF. The kids worked hard. We didn’t give up any chances today.”

With Miller’s goals coming in the 46th and 78th minutes, and Macie Danna adding the final strike in the 80th, the Wolverines capped a tremendous final week of the regular season, beating Mission Viejo and Dana Hills by a combined 6-0 tally.

Aliso did so without the services of Roberts, who tore her meniscus and MCL in her right knee last week against Capistrano Valley. The Ohio State-signee and player of the year candidate will be out the remainder of the season.

“She is the hardest worker and the strongest girl I’ve ever played with,” said Miller, who scored four goals this week. “That day, when she got the MRI, I literally would categorize that as one of the top-five worst days of my life. It’s kind of been the Lauren-Sarah duo these four years, and to have that image kind of shatter on the field, was absolutely heartbreaking.”

In the Sea View League:

No. 8 Laguna Hills 1, San Juan Hills 0: The Hawks captured the league championship in dramatic fashion as Rebecca Chavez scored the winner in the waning moments of regulation.

The Hawks topped both No. 3 Tesoro and San Juan Hills – the second- and third-place teams in league – to close out the season and grab the Sea View League title.

Contact the writer: kconnolly@ocregister.com