Girls’ 3-A Soccer Playoffs : Esperanza Breaks San Gorgonio String

In less than 80 minutes Tuesday, the Esperanza High School girls’ soccer team did what no team had ever done before.

It scored four goals against San Gorgonio, the Southern Section 3-A defending champion, in a 4-0 shutout in a 3-A semifinal match at Esperanza.

In the four-year history of its program, San Gorgonio had never given up more than three goals in a game.

For the Aztecs (23-1-2), the second-seeded team in 3-A, the victory was especially sweet.

Last season, Esperanza finished 12-6-7 and lost in the first round to La Quinta. Aztec Coach John Coppage took over the girls’ program after coaching the Esperanza boys to four consecutive Empire League championships and two 3-A title games.

With Tuesday’s victory, Esperanza advanced to the 3-A final Saturday at Gahr High School in Cerritos. There, the Aztecs will meet the winner of today’s 3 p.m. semifinal between Laguna Hills and Buena.

Eleven minutes into the game, Kristi Aubachon crossed to sophomore Linda Lunceford, who spun around but was trapped by a defender. As the ball slipped away, Chrissy Coppage, the coach’s daughter, rushed in and scored from 15 yards.

Nine minutes later, Maria De La Torre lofted a high ball over the heads of several players. Freshman Lynn Murray outleaped two defenders for the header, knocking the ball into the net to give Esperanza a 2-0 halftime lead.

In the second half, San Gorgonio came out shooting. But after 15 minutes of foiled offensive maneuvers, San Gorgonio’s intensity seemed to wain. Esperanza gained the momentum, and moments later, another goal.

Jill Cieslak lofted a long, high pass to De La Torre, who outran a pack of defenders and scored from 10 yards.

With 10 minutes remaining, Michelle Rullo scored the fourth goal when a shot by Coppage rebounded off the left post and into Rullo’s reach.