Northwood and Corona del Mar have combined to win the past six Pacific Coast League girls soccer titles.
The race for this season’s title got tighter Tuesday.
Fifth-ranked Corona del Mar grabbed the lead on a late header by Megan Chelf to defeat Northwood, 2-1, in league game at Portola High.
Corona del Mar (15-0-3, 3-0-2) has won three straight in league to tie Northwood (8-7-4, 4-1-0) for first place in the standings with eight points.
CdM is the only team in the county that is still undefeated.
“We played our first two games (in league) like we had to rush through things,” Corona del Mar coach Bryan Middleton said. “We weren’t playing our possession-style type of game. Then we settled down. We want to continue with the momentum into the second half of league and into the playoffs.”
The Sea Kings sprung to action in the fourth minute as Trinity Rodman took a through ball and converted for the lead, 1-0.
Northwood tied the score, 1-1, with a goal by Kaylee Nguyen two minutes into the second half. Brooke Kong set up the goal when she lobbed a long ball behind the CdM defense to Nguyen.
Neither team gave up any ground until the 71st minute.
Chelf got her head onto Leah Givant’s service to put CdM ahead for good, 2-1.
“She has the innate ability to win the head ball, and she’s maybe only 5-foot-1,” Middleton said. “She, unlike most high school girls, likes to attack the ball in the air. She has zero fear.”
In the Sunset League:
Fountain Valley 2, No. 3 Edison 1: Karley Duda and Kylee Wilson scored as the Barons handed the Chargers their first league loss.
No. 6 Los Alamitos 2, Huntington Beach 1 (OT): Amanda Jones’ golden goal put the Griffins in sole possession of second place. It was the Oilers’ fifth overtime game of league.
