Soccer Roundup : Gamblin’s Goal Lifts Esperanza : El Dorado Shut Out in Empire Opener by Strong Aztec Defense

Senior Colleen Gamblin’s goal midway through the first half Thursday was enough to give Esperanza High School a 1-0 girls’ soccer victory over El Dorado in the Empire League opener at Esperanza.

Esperanza (11-1-1), Orange County’s highest-ranked 3-A team, has allowed only two goals this season. All of the Aztecs’ victories have been shutouts.

“We have a very solid defensive unit,” Coach John Coppage said. “That was one thing I stressed when I took over.”

For the last four years, Coppage coached the Esperanza boys’ team, whose trademark was a strong defense that set school records for shutouts and fewest goals allowed.

El Dorado’s goalie, Gina Sauecedo, had 24 saves.

Sophomore Jennifer Lavoie, one of eight Aztec sophomores, had two saves for Esperanza.

In other Empire League girls’ play:

Los Alamitos 3, Cypress 1--Los Alamitos played a sluggish first half but rallied with three goals in the league opener at Los Alamitos. Cypress took a 1-0 lead on a goal by Melissa Santos. But Jaycee Leitner scored in the first 30 seconds of the second half as Los Alamitos tied the score, 1-1.

Los Alamitos (14-2-1, 1-0) took a 2-1 lead on a goal by Hollie Kunst 13 minutes into the half. Tanja Weth scored a minute later as Los Alamitos took a 3-1 lead. Kevin Reeks had five saves for Los Alamitos.

In Sunset League girls’ soccer:

Huntington Beach 1, Westminster 0--Lisa Smith scored midway through the first half for Huntington Beach at home in the league opener for both teams. Goalie Gina Corbin had four saves for Huntington Beach.

Edison 1, Marina 1--Kendra Whisenand scored for Marina and Tracie Long scored for Edison in the league opener at Edison (6-3-4, 0-0-1). Goalie Cayanne Cramer had six goalie saves for Marina (3-5-2, 0-0-1).

In nonleague girls’ play:

Capistrano Valley 3, Canyon 0--Capistrano Valley improved to 10-2 in a home game. Cindy Attaway, Jill Linhart and Ginger Frank each scored for Capistrano Valley and goalie Pam Gladden had five saves.

Dana Hills 7, Newport Harbor 1--Megan Fosberg scored two goals in the first half and teammate Helen Crowe added the first of her two goals to give the Dolphins a 3-0 lead at Dana Hills. Heidi Phillips, Stacy Juhl and Stacy Ramirez each added a goal for Dana Hills (8-2-3) and Ramirez had two assists.

Trabuco Hills 1, Orange Lutheran 1--Blynn Roberson scored for Orange Lutheran and Kathy Anderson scored for Trabuco Hills in a game played at Trabuco Hills.

In boys’ nonleague play:

La Habra 4, St. Paul 1--David Vallejo scored two first-half goals to lead La Habra at home. Vallejo has scored nine goals this season. Sal Maldanado and Dylan Brennan scored in the second half for La Habra (5-2-3). Goalies Jason Keller and Mario Munoz combined for seven saves for La Habra.