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Roberts comes up clutch again for No. 1 Aliso Niguel
Freshman scores the tournament deciding goal for second week in a row.
SANTA ANA- For the second week in a row, freshman Sarah Roberts was the catalyst in a big tournament-winning effort for No. 1 Aliso Niguel.
Roberts scored the match-deciding goal in the second half, as the Wolverines rallied to defeat No. 4 San Clemente 3-1 in the championship match of the 2011 Mater Dei Premier Invitational Monday at Mater Dei High.
“This is a huge comeback win for us and one that we look back on whenever we’re losing in the future,” said Roberts. “They (San Clemente) are the best team that we have played this season by far.”
Aliso Niguel, which won the Aliso Cup championship last Monday night on a second half goal scored by Roberts improves to 8-0-2 on the year.
“They (San Clemente) are a program that everyone is chasing,” said Wolverines head coach Randy Dodge. “For us to give up a goal in the first minute and battle back for 79 minutes is huge and the kids were great. Bu it is one game and we still have to play them twice more in league and maybe in CIF, so we know it’s not over.”
San Clemente (5-2-3) took the lead less than a minute into the match. Off a cross through the box by senior Dana Blumer, senior Amanda Simkins tapped a shot into the near corner of the goal to make it 1-0.
The Wolverines gradually began to establish possession in the attacking third and tied the match in the 12th minute when senior Lauren Benner fished out a corner kick from Roberts amongst heavy traffic in front of the goal and put a shot into the net.
Both teams struggled to find offensive attack throughout the remainder of the first half. The Wolverines defense, led by seniors Ashley McCutcheon and Jordan Ansara, along with junior Nicole Smolinksi, prevented Triton runs with timely clearing out of the attacking third. San Clemente defense, led by senior Marlee Carrillo and junior Sydney Fuertes, did the same to prevent scoring opportunities for Aliso Niguel.
San Clemente appeared to recapture the lead in the final minute of the half, when Carrillo headed a corner kick into the net. But a foul call on the Tritons disallowed the goal and the match was tied at the intermission.
Aliso Niguel opened the half with heavy offensive pressure in the attacking third and took the lead in the 45th minute, as Roberts dribbled into an open space and blasted a shot over the right shoulder of Tritons senior goalie Sheridan Hapic and into the net.
“I could hear my coach saying go 1v1 and that he wanted me to break down the defense,” said Roberts. “I got the ball, turned and dribbled, and ripped it far post.”
San Clemente had a chance to tie it in the 50th minute when senior Alex Gerrain got free for a shot. But Wolverines senior goalie Sammy Prud’homme came up with the save to end the threat.
Aliso Niguel then added an insurance goal in the 58th minute, as senior Amanda Bates got to a loose ball off a free kick and sent a shot past Hapsic.
The Wolverines defense shut down San Clemente’s attack the rest of the match, led by the efforts of Smolinski and McCutcheon.
“I’m proud of my team and our overall success in this tournament,” said Tritons coach Stacey Finnerty. “We learned a lot and still have a lot to fix, but we’ll be better prepared the next time we play Aliso Niguel.”
