Girls soccer finals preview: Los Alamitos vs. San Clemente

CIF-SS GIRLS SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIPS

DIVISION I

LOS ALAMITOS (21-3-5) vs. SAN CLEMENTE (25-4-1)

Mission Viejo High, Saturday, 8 p.m.

How they got here: Los Alamitos: defeated Huntington Beach, 0-0 (5-4 on PKs); Temecula Valley, 1-0; Mater Dei, 0-0 (3-1 on PKs); Aliso Niguel, 0-0 (7-6 on PKs). San Clemente: defeated Buena, 2-1; Thousand Oaks, 2-1; Esperanza, 0-0 (4-2 on PKs); El Toro, 2-0

Outlook:Despite winning only one of their four games in regulation, the Griffins return to the championship game for the first time since defeating Mater Dei, 2-0, for the 2005 title. Los Alamitos will look to continue relying on a defense that has not allowed a regulation goal since Feb. 12.

Senior goalie Amanda McDonough recorded a season-high 13 saves in semifinals against Aliso Niguel, while junior Kiley Godfrey recorded the game-winning penalty kick.

The Griffins were one of three teams to hold San Clemente scoreless this season, defeating the Tritons, 2-0, in the first round of the Mater Dei Premier Invitational on Dec. 18, as freshman Taylor Vargo scored a goal in her first high school game to break a scoreless tie in the second half, with Godfrey scoring another goal moments later.

The defending co-champion Tritons will look to become the first Division I team to repeat since San Clemente accomplished the feat as champions in 2002 and co-champions in both 2003 and 2004.

This will be the Tritons' fifth appearance in the Division I title game in the past eight seasons, the most of any county school during that span.

The Tritons advanced to the title game with a 2-0 shutout of El Toro, snapping the Chargers' 11-game winning streak.

Senior goalie Tiffany Corder has recorded 23 saves in the Tritons' four playoff games. The depth of San Clemente's offense has been on display during the playoffs, as five different players have scored their six total goals.