SOCCER ROUNDUP : Edison Defeats Marina

It was supposed to be the Sunset League girls’ soccer game of the season.

But after being delayed two weeks by rain, the battle between Orange County powers Edison and Marina Wednesday resembled little more than just another league game, full of miscues and at times looking like a Ping-Pong match.

Still, its ramifications were significant. Visiting Edison, ranked No. 2 in the county, came away with a 2-0 victory to take control of the league race. The victory moved Edison to 16-3-1 and 6-0-1 in the league. Seventh-ranked Marina is 11-4-3 and 5-2.

Edison scored on a penalty kick by Lynne Thiel 10 minutes into the game and then retreated into a defensive shell the rest of the way. The Chargers added their second goal late in the game when a shot by Erin Bailey deflected off a Marina defender into the net.

“I expected it to be a lot more intense,” Edison Coach Kerry McGrath said. “It seemed flat. They did put pressure on, but we held up.”

Marina did put pressure on, controlling the ball for much of the game. But while Edison goalkeeper Stephanie Hinkey made 12 saves before leaving late in the game because of a twisted ankle, the Vikings had few good scoring opportunities.

“We created but we never made that last pass,” Marina Coach Bobby Bruch said. “Things didn’t go our way.”

Marina won’t have to wait long for a rematch. The teams will meet again Tuesday at Edison.