SOUTHERN SECTION GIRLS’ SOCCER PLAYOFFS : 4-A : Dana Hills Sets Sail for South Coast Final

The championship dreams of Mission Viejo and Dana Hills high schools were blowing in the wind Tuesday afternoon.

Of the 26 shots attempted by both teams in the girls’ 4-A semifinal soccer match, only three were taken into the breeze whipping in from the west on Dana Hills’ field.

But one of those shots, by forward Amy Kroeger 30 minutes into the second half, was the difference as Dana Hills (22-3-3) held on to defeat Mission Viejo, 2-1, and advance to the 4-A championship match against sixth-ranked El Toro (20-3-3) at 6 p.m. Friday at Gahr High School in Cerritos. The teams were co-champions of the South Coast League.

El Toro defeated South Torrance, 2-1, in the other semifinal Tuesday.

It will be Dana Hills’ first trip to the girls’ soccer final.

“We went out and worked hard and won the balls we had to,” Dana Hills Coach Ken Ezratty said. “But the wind was definitely a factor.”

Especially on the volley that Dana Hills midfielder Jenny Koenig launched with her left foot into the east goal 33:22 into the first half.

Koenig took a pass from Jonelle Tortamasi on the sideline, spun and drilled a hanging drive from 35 yards. The wind helped it hook into the upper left corner of the net past Mission Viejo goalkeeper Tamar de Fries.

Janet Rollins helped Dana Hills get its insurance goal. Promoted from junior varsity because she can throw further than any other Dolphin, Rollins tossed a strike in front of the net from the corner, and Kroeger thumped it in with a rolling header for a 2-0 lead.