Girls soccer: Excalibur Cup opens with 21 county teams

The county's final preseason girls soccer tournament - the Excalibur Cup - begins Thursday at Foothill High.

This year's 32-team field, which features 21 county participants, will be the final showcase for many teams before they dive into the league portion of their schedule.

Here is a look at three county teams capable of bringing home the prestigious tournament championship, which was won last season by Buena.

1. Esperanza: The county's top team comes into the tournament on a dominating roll, winning its past two games by a combined score of 14-0. The Aztecs' offensive success can be attributed to their balanced scoring, as seven different girls have scored goals this season, six of whom have scored more than once. The Aztecs' defense has also played its part in their success, as they have allowed only four goals all season.

2. Santa Margarita: The Eagles have soared out the gates this preseason, going 6-1-2. Senior Lindsay Loftus heads the Eagles' charge, scoring a team-high six goals and dishing out three assists. Goalies Kristen Redsun and Parris Wells have also been instrumental in the Eagles' strong start as well, combining to stop 47 shot attempts.

3. Mission Viejo: The Diablos have rebounded from losing three of their first four games this season, posting a 5-1-2 mark over their past eight. Senior Lauren Matheson has helped the Diablos' turnaround, scoring six of her team-high eight goals in the last four games. The Diablos were the tournament runners-up last season.

Contact the writer: jeichelberger@ocregister.com