Girls’ Soccer : Esperanza Plays Host to L.B. Wilson

The Esperanza High School girls’ soccer team, the second-seeded team in the Southern Section 3-A playoffs, will play host to Long Beach Wilson (12-4-2) in a second-round match at 3 today.

The Aztecs (20-1-2), the Empire League champions, shut out wild-card entrant Pacifica, 3-0, in last Thursday’s first round. Long Beach Wilson defeated Woodbridge in its first-round match.

Colleen Gamblin, a senior sweeper who was named Empire League player of the year, has led the Esperanza defense, which has 19 shutouts.

Sophomore Linda Lunceford (13 goals), senior Maria DelaTorre (12), sophomore Michelle Rullo (11) and sophomore midfielder Chrissy Coppage (16 assists) have led the Atzec offense.

Two other Empire League teams--No. 2 representative Los Alamitos and No. 3 Cypress--are still competing in the 3-A playoffs. Los Alamitos (15-4-2) will play host to Buena (18-4-1), and Cypress (10-5-2) will play host to third-seeded San Gorgonio (25-1-0).

In other 3-A matches, fourth-seeded Laguna Hills (17-5-1), will travel to Bishop Amat (15-4-2). Kennedy (15-5-0) will play host to Rio Mesa (20-2), whose only losses this season have been to Buena and top-seeded Simi Valley.

La Quinta (16-4-1) will play host to Alemany (19-3-2), last season’s 3-A runner-up, and Angelus League champion Mater Dei (21-4-1) will play at Royal (16-4-1). Mater Dei may be without starting forward Tina Manfre, who injured her left foot Monday when a portable goal post fell on her during a practice.

Brea-Olinda, the Orange League champion, and Valencia, the Orange League runner-up, are the only Orange County teams remaining in the 2-A playoffs.

Brea-Olinda (11-2-4) will play host to South Pasadena (15-6-1), the fourth-seeded 2-A team, and Valencia (12-4-1) will play host to Bonita (19-3-1).