Esperanza beats San Clemente on penalty kicks

MISSION VIEJO - Behind a spectacular effort from senior goalie Lacie Carver in the penalty kick session, Esperanza finally claimed an elusive CIF-SS Division I title.

Carver stopped three of the four shots that she faced, as the Aztecs defeated San Clemente, 3-1, in penalty kicks, after the two teams played to a scoreless tie in the CIF-SS Division 1 championship Saturday night at Mission Viejo High.

“It’s an indescribable feeling,” said Carver. “All the girls have come out hard and played for each other and it’s been an amazing season all-around.”

Click here to see a slide show from this final and the other Saturday finals.

After losing title matches in 1989 and 1994, Esperanza (24-0-4) did not allow a single goal on its run to the school’s first CIF title.

“I told the girls to go out, have fun, and compete with them, and we did that,” said Aztecs coach John King. “The girls all worked together and did their jobs throughout the season.”

The Tritons (17-7-6) offense managed to get the upper hand throughout much of the first half, as Frannie Coxe, Tessa Andujar, and Shelby Chambers-Garcia helped San Clemente win loose balls and get early corner kick opportunities.

But the Aztecs defense kept the Tritons from converting their chances, as seniors Lindsay Tsai, Katie Gallanes, and Melissa Laxamana each made key first half defensive plays.

The second half was more of the same, as the Aztecs defense continued to keep the Triton offensive pressure from materializing into any scoring.

San Clemente’s best chance came in the final two minutes of regulation, as Chambers-Garcia corralled a loose ball before Carver could get to it and had an open look at the goal. But her subsequent shot sailed over the goal.

The Aztecs had one last chance in the final minute of regulation, but a after a wild scramble in front of the goal that saw several players get a chance to get a shot off, the Tritons defense held, and the match went into overtime.

San Clemente nearly won the early in the first overtime, as senior Lauren Fryer found an opening in the middle of the field and sent a rolling shot toward the an empty net.

But Aztecs defender Amanda Repasky sprinted to the ball and with an extended lunge kicked it away seconds before it crossed the goal line.

Carver began the shootout by stopping Chambers-Garcia’s shot with a fully extended dive to her left.

After stopping Coxe with another fully extended dive, Aztecs freshman Nosa Ogiamien converted her penalty kick attempt to give Esperanza a 3-1 lead.

On the ensuing Tritons attempt, Carver produced yet another diving stop on a shot by Tritons junior Madison Kaminski to clinch the title and set off a wild Aztec celebration.

“This was a battle of two teams that have intense work ethics and a passion to win,” said Tritons coach Stacey Finnerty. “It could have gone both ways and they earned it.”