Mandrich pushes Trabuco Hills into quarterfinals
MISSION VIEJO - There were big plays on both sides of the field Tuesday, but no one found themselves in the middle of as many of them as Trabuco Hills’ Jessica Mandrich.
The Mustangs senior defender’s aggressive play led to an early goal and her defensive antics were just as important in the team’s 2-1 victory against Dana Hills in the second round of the CIF-SS Division 1 girls soccer playoffs at Trabuco Hills High.
The Mustangs (13-7-5) will be host to Santa Margarita in Thursday’s quarterfinals.
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“We wanted to come out with fire,” Trabuco Hills coach Sarah Trost said. “We knew Dana Hills was a great team.”
Aubrey Baker and Sam Fillon recorded first-half goals for Trabuco Hills, which became only the second team to defeat Dana Hills (11-2-6) this season. Mission Viejo is the other.
Baker scored in the third minute when she collected Mandrich’s rebound and placed it in the net for the 1-0 lead. Mandrich broke free down the left side and with the goalie charging out let a shot fly that deflected off the crossbar.
It bounced right to Baker, who had time to gather the ball before kicking it in.
“That really pumped us up,” Fillon said. “It let us know we could beat them.”
Trabuco Hills extended the margin when Fillon headed in Natalie Werner’s corner kick in the final 10 seconds of the first half to make it 2-0. Werner set up on the left corner and sent the ball far post, where Fillon headed it in.
“We’ve been working on that play all season,” Fillon said.
Dana Hills cut its deficit in half after Lynsey Gaines struck from 35 yards out in the 51st minute. Dana Hills nearly tied it moments later but Mandrich was able to clear a header try before it crossed the goal line.
It was one of three clutch plays from Mandrich in the backfield that prevented sure goals.
She broke up a Dolphins attack with a slide tackle early in the second half with the goalie out of net, otherwise Dana Hills had a clear shot on goal. Then after Dana Hills scored, she cleared another header that hit off the goalie and was about to cross the line.
“She really saved us in the back,” Trost said. “Her participation on offense also led to our first goal when she went on the attack.”
