Canyon rallies, ties No. 3 Esperanza
ANAHEIM - Not much was settled in the Century League girls soccer championship race after No. 3 Esperanza and Canyon played to a 1-1 draw after two overtime periods Tuesday at Esperanza High.
The three-time defending league champs Comanches trailed the Aztecs by one in the loss column entering the first meeting between the teams since Esperanza joined the Century League this season, and still does.
Esperanza (15-2-4, 6-0-1) also carried a 10-match winning streak, but it became an 11-game unbeaten streak after Taylor Alderete’s goal in the 73rd minute evened the match for Canyon (7-4-5, 3-1-1).
“It’s still about defending our title,” Canyon coach Walter Camargo said. “We wanted to come in here and get the win, but we’re happy with the tie. It keeps us right behind them.”
Alderete broke free late after two Aztecs defenders missed heading the ball. She dribbled around her defender before beating the keeper far post to tie the match at one. Alderete had three similar shots saved by goalie Alyssa Giannetti before sliding that one past her.
Esperanza held a 1-0 halftime lead thanks to Paulina Good’s strike from almost 40 yards out. She took advantage of an open net when Canyon’s goalie Katie Devault came out for a sliding tackle, but couldn’t recover in time. The ball bounced right to a charging Good, who didn’t hesitate and sent the ball on a line.
“We created a mistake and Paulina has a very, very good shot,” Esperanza coach John King said. “She’s definitely capable of doing that.”
The teams finished with 10 shots on goal apiece, but it was Esperanza that fired the final three, all in the second overtime. It was a contrast to the second half, when the Aztecs managed just two shots on goal.
“I thought it was an evenly played match,” Camargo said. “They have a lot of speed up top. I thought we did a good job of not letting them get behind us.”
Canyon fell from a tie for first with Esperanza after losing to Brea Olinda, 2-1, last week. It knocked the Comanches to second place, and they can’t afford another slip up like it should they hope to catch Esperanza.
Alderete’s goal was the first allowed in league by Esperanza, which has played more than half its league games already. The Aztecs will be off until next week and will get a chance to rest up.
Meanwhile, Canyon must keep pace and hope to win the next time they meet on Feb. 8 at Fred Kelly Stadium.
“We knew it would be a good game,” King said. “They are the reigning league champs. We wanted to come out and go at them. At the same time, we didn’t want to drop any points today.”
