Mottram's goal helps Mission Viejo beat Edison

HUNTINGTON BEACH- Embracing the role of the underdog, the Mission Viejo girls’ soccer team produced another nail-biting victory.

Junior Carly Mottram tallied the match-winning goal early in the second half, as the Diablos edged the Edison Chargers 1-0 in the second round of the CIF-SS Division 1 playoffs Tuesday evening at Edison High.

"It was a team effort,” Mottram said. “We love being the underdog because we have nothing to lose and we showed people what we can do.”

————————————————

• All CIF girls soccer playoff brackets (updated)
• OCVarsity Hot Shots from Tuesday's playoff games
• Esperanza stays on a roll
• Mandrich pushes Trabuco Hills into quarterfinals

————————————————

The Diablos (13-7-1) won their second straight one-goal match of the playoffs and snapped the Chargers (16-6-4) eight match winning streak. Mission Viejo will battle Esperanza on Thursday in the quarterfinals.

“Our game plan was to try and get in between the spaces and get the ball wide,” Diablos coach Susie Daher said. “Our goal was set-up because we had been going wide so much and Carly was able to slip in.”

Though Edison was able to find room to attack the Diablos defense in the first half, sophomore Mikaela Berger produced three of her six saves to help keep the match scoreless.

Less than three minutes into the second half, a pass from junior Sam Keary found Mottram streaking toward the goal. Mottram touched the ball past the on-rushing challenge of Edison senior goalie Shelby Karal and tapped a shot into the back of the wide open net to give Mission Viejo a 1-0 lead.

“We said at halftime that we had to play it to the outside and not down the middle, and I got a great ball from Sam in the split,” Mottram said.

The Chargers offensive attack produced enormous pressure on the Diablos defense throughout the second half, but seniors Mariah Helmer and Lindsay Bolla each stopped Edison runs by clearing balls away from the attacking third.

With less than three minutes remaining in the match, Edison appeared to tie the match on a goal by senior Rebecca Ross off a corner kick. But the goal was disallowed because of an offside call.

Edison had another corner opportunity in the final minute, but junior Katy Fawcett cleared the ball away from the net to help the Diablos preserve the win.

“I thought the girls left it all out on the field and Mission Viejo finished their chance,” Chargers coach Kerry “Mac” Crooks said.