Los Alamitos plays at times like a boxer.
The fourth-ranked Griffins feel out and test their opponent in the beginning before identifying the holes in a defense and striking the knockout blow.
Los Alamitos controlled possession through the first half and landed two strikes in the second half to down Newport Harbor, 2-0, and stay alive in the Sunset League race at Costa Mesa High on Tuesday.
“We kept our identity,” Los Alamitos assistant coach Mossy Kennedy said. “As we played our possession game, we were patient to find the openings and took them when we got them. We had to respect what they did. They presented a lot of challenges to us, and it took us a while to break them down.”
Los Alamitos (19-3-3. 5-2-1) sits alone in second place with 11 points, one point behind first-place Edison (10-6-4, 6-2-0). Newport Harbor (13-4-3, 4-4-0) fell one point behind third-place Huntington Beach (13-7-6, 4-3-1), which beat No. 6 Edison in double overtime on Tuesday.
All four teams are still mathematically alive in the title race with two league games remaining.
Newport Harbor, ranked No. 9 in CIF-SS Division 2, still feels confident in its bid for a playoff spot.
“We’re right where I want us to be,” Newport Harbor coach Justin Schroeder said. “We still hold our destiny in our hands. We’re in a good spot.”
Los Alamitos had first-half chances but Newport Harbot got big saves from Bryana Esparza.
Monique Ponce broke through in the 41st minute, and Vanessa Millsaps fended off a defender to score in the 62nd minute.
In the Freeway League:
Troy 3, No. 3 Sunny Hills 0: Megan Balderas scored a goal in each half to keep the Warriors unbeaten in league and hand the Lancers their first league loss.
In the South Coast League:
No. 2 Aliso Niguel 1, Dana Hills 0: The Wolverines clinched their fourth straight league title with a second-half goal by Bella Folino.
In the Trinity League:
No. 1 JSerra 0, No. 7 Santa Margarita 0: The Lions were shut out for the first time this season, but remain unbeaten in league with two games remaining.
