San Clemente girls remain too strong for Los Alamitos

SAN CLEMENTE - The Los Alamitos girls soccer team might be the county’s team to watch in the future, but for the second time in five days, San Clemente decisively proved that it is the county’s current measuring stick for excellence.

Senior Jen Chrislip scored goals in both halves, and senior Tiffany Corder recorded eight saves and her fifth consecutive shutout to guide the Tritons past the Griffins, 2-0, in the CIF Division I Regional semifinals on Thursday night at San Clemente High.

“We knew the game would come down to who wanted it more,” Chrislip said. “The last game against them was pretty physical, and we knew that we had to settle down, play our game and keep attacking.”

The Tritons (28-4-1) will play Buchanan High of Clovis in the Division I Regional championship game on Saturday at Downey High.

Los Alamitos, which lost to San Clemente, 2-0, in the CIF-SS Division I championship game on Saturday, finished the season with a 22-5-5 record.

“The girls came here to play today and they were amazing,” Tritons coach Stacey Finnerty said. “We’re going to have to have to use the maturity, experience and composure that we have to be successful Saturday.”

The match was less than two minutes old when the Tritons took the lead. Senior Kelsey Wilson sent a well timed crossing pass to junior Lauren Fryer down the right sideline.

Fryer’s shot attempt was wide of the net, but Chrislip found it in the middle of the box. She uncorked a hard liner that hit the crossbar before caroming into the net, making it 1-0.

It was an especially costly goal for the Griffins. Senior goalie Amanda McDonough suffered a leg injury on the play after colliding with Fryer and had to be helped off the field. She did not return. 

McDonough was playing for the first time since leaving Saturday's CIF-SS championship game because of a shoulder injury.

San Clemente had several chances to score in the first half, but the Griffins managed to keep them from converting. The Tritons took a 1-0 lead into the intermission.

The Tritons attack was even stronger in the second half, as they outshot the Griffins, 13-4, and maintained consistent pressure in the attacking third.

In the 58th minute of the game, Chrislip sent a floater from 20 yards out that sailed over the head of senior goalie Samantha St. Omer Roy and bounced into the net, giving the Tritons a 2-0 advantage.

Los Alamitos managed a few chances late in the game, but the Tritons backline trio of seniors Camille Berg, Zoe Jeffers, and junior Sam Yackley, along with the play of Corder in the net, shut the door on the Griffins’ season.

Los Alamitos coach Steve Soler praised the effort of the Tritons.

"Coach Finnerty has the Tritons prepared and playing really well,” said Soler.  “It hurts a bit, but I think our team will grow from this experience.”

Contact the writer: jeichelberger@ocregister.com