Girls’ soccer: Thousand Oaks ...giant-killers, indeed

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After beating the No. 1 team in the nation, Torrey Pines, Thousand Oaks beat the No. 3 team in the nation, San Clemente, 4-2 in penalty kicks on Thursday.

Up next is the No. 2 team in the nation -- I swear, I’m not making this stuff up -- Long Beach Wilson, which beat Mayfair, 1-0, with a goal from Emily Dillon in the 71st minute, in the Southern California Regional Division I championship game at 3:30 p.m. Saturday at Downey High.

Wilson will, undoubtedly, be the one to stop the giants-killers, right? Well ...

The Lancers are playing a very unattractive, yet very effective, style of soccer in which they just throw everyone on defense. It was very difficult for Torrey Pines and San Clemente to find space. I think Wilson has the size and the skill necessary to beat that style of defense. Then again, I thought Torrey Pines and San Clemente were going to beat Thousand Oaks, too, so what do I know?

-- Jaime Cárdenas

-- Image from www.amazon.com.uk