Katella strengthens lead in the Orange League

ANAHEIM- An anticipated showdown for first place in the Orange League turned into a dominant offensive display by the Katella Knights.    
    
Seniors Karina Quintero and Denise Delgadillo each scored two goals, as the Knights blanked the Anaheim Colonists 4-0 Tuesday at Katella High.
    
“We all have faith in each other and accomplished everything that we practiced for today,” Quintero said.  

Katella (13-5-2, 6-1) is now three points ahead of Anaheim (7-4-3, 4-2-1) and Santa Ana Valley with three league matches remaining for all three teams.
    
“This was our biggest game of the season and we told the girls if they played their game and focused on the basics, they would come out on top,” Knights coach Kristen Goossens said. “We just have to stay true to how we play the game and worry about one game at a time.”
    
The Knights were on the attack early, possessing the ball deep into the attacking third and getting several shots on goal. They broke for a 1-0 lead through in the 16th minute, as Quintero received a pass from teammate Denise Hernandez and lofted a shot that ricocheted off the far post and rolled into the near corner of the goal.
    
The Colonists threatened to score in the 21st minute, but Knights senior goalie Monica Hernandez stopped a run to the goal by Colonists senior Rosario Gonzalez by diving on a loose ball before Gonzalez could get a clean shot attempt off.
    
Katella would add to the lead in the 24th minute, as Delgadillo sent a cross into the middle of the box that rolled past Colonists goalkeeper Elisa Martin and over to Quintero who tapped a shot into the empty net.
    
Then in the 36th minute, sophomore Marisa Aghishian floated a perfect cross into the middle of the box for Quintero whose subsequent shot attempt was blocked by Martin. But Delgadillo tracked down the rebound and tapped the ball into the goal to give the Knights a 3-0 lead going into the intermission.
    
“It was really important for us to get off to good start, and throughout the game, we were in their attacking third,” said Quintero. “Our defense did a great job.”
    
Anaheim’s best scoring chance of the match came in the 49th minute, but a shot by Karina Amaro was stopped on a dive by Hernandez.
    
Katella continued their strong offensive attack, outshooting the Anaheim 17-5 in the second half. Delgadillo capped the scoring in the 56th minute when she lined a shot that grazed Quintero before floating just underneath the crossbar and into the goal.
     
“I was looking forward to getting those goals because I had not scored in a while,” Delgadillo said. “Hopefully we can play as strong as we did today for the rest of league.”