No. 1 Esperanza makes big splash in victory

Esperanza girls soccer coach John King acknowledged that his team was looking to make a statement in Tuesday's showdown with its Sunset League rival, Los Alamitos.

With first place on the line, the Aztecs' statement was a decisive one.

Senior Kaleigh Dodson, freshman Nosa Ogiamien and sophomore Rylee Baisden each scored a goal to lead top-ranked Esperanza to a 3-0 victory over the No. 6 Griffins at Esperanza High.

"We knew they had been coming on strong, and this was certainly our statement game here in league," King said.

The Aztecs (17-0-4, 6-0-2) snapped the Griffins' four-match winning streak and they have defeated Los Alamitos (15-6-4, 6-3) three consecutive times. Esperanza is one victory away from clinching the Sunset League title.

The heavy rains turned the field into a muddy mess, but the Aztecs were able to establish possession in the attacking third early in the match. Baisden and junior AB Ogiamien led the attacks early in the contest.

Ogiamien nearly gave the Aztecs the lead less than 10 minutes into the match when she sent a shot past Griffins junior Shelbi Young.  But Los Alamitos sophomore Lindsey Salcido kicked the ball away just before it rolled over the goal line.

The Aztecs continued to press their offensive attack throughout the half, and just before the intermission, they finally converted an opportunity into a goal. As Dodson dribbled toward the center of the box, Salcido slipped, leaving Dodson free to get off a low rolling shot that skipped past Young and into the right corner of the net to make it 1-0.

Less than five minutes into the second half, Esperanza added to the lead. Off a long, floating corner kick into the box from senior Melissa Laxamana, Nosa Ogiamien leaped high and got just a piece of the ball before it bounced into the net, giving the Aztecs a 2-0 advantage.

Later in the half, Baisden fished out a bouncing ball and blasted a shot into the top right corner of the net for the Aztecs’ final goal.

The Aztecs defense did the rest, as seniors Kennedy Roteman and Katie Gallanes helped close the door on the Griffins.

“They deserve the credit,” Griffins coach Steve Soler said of the Aztecs. “They were more aggressive and it seemed like they got to every loose ball.”