SOUTHERN SECTION GIRLS’ SOCCER PLAYOFFS : Edison Jogs the Memory With a Wild-Card Victory

Ever since they fell from the county’s top ranking, the Edison Chargers have felt like a forgotten girls’ soccer team.

The Chargers took a step Tuesday toward refreshing people’s memories.

Rebounding after giving up a goal in the first minute of the game, the Chargers defeated visiting Dana Hills, 2-1, in a Southern Section Division I wild-card game.

Edison (20-5-1 and ranked fourth in the county) next will play Thursday at Palos Verdes Peninsula in a first-round game.

Edison was in the wild-card game because it finished third in the tough Sunset League.

“Because we went down in the rankings and the league, people forgot about us,” said the Chargers’ Shellee Stucker, who scored a first-half goal. “If people think Edison is nothing, they’re in for a big surprise.”

Coach Kerry McGrath said she saw enough good things Tuesday to believe the Chargers’ could go far in the playoffs.

“We had a bad time at the end of the year, but I think we’re back,” said McGrath. “This was a big step.”

Dana Hills (16-7-5 and ranked eighth in the county) entered the game hoping for a repeat of last year, when it knocked Edison out of the first round of the playoffs. It seemed the Dolphins were on track to do that when Shawna Tortomaski scored off a feed from Eryn Gerhard one minute into the game.

But Edison, led by hustling Erin Bailey, quickly took control of the game. Stucker scored on a booming kick with 10 minutes left in the first half, and then Lynne Thiel got what proved to be the game-winner seven minutes into the second half.

“They’re a good team,” Dana Hills Coach Ken Ezratty said. “They came to play. We were ready. It was what playoffs are all about.”

In another Division I wild-card game:

Ocean View 6, University 1--Sophomore Kimberly Engesser scored three goals, two in the first half, to lead host Ocean View (19-5-2). Teammates Gina Tocco, Jessica Funke and Krista Gaeta also scored. Ocean View advances to the first round to play at second-seeded El Toro Thursday. Jennifer Whiteley scored for University (9-9-3).

In Division II wild-card games:

Orange 3, Trabuco Hills 2--Laura Roundy scored the deciding goal, and her second of the game, off an assist from Jenni Hodges with 20 minutes remaining to give Orange its first playoff victory in four years. Orange will play at Sunny Hills in the first round Thursday.

Anna Eschenman scored the other goal for Orange (12-8-2) on a header 10 minutes into the second half. Shannon Pickett had seven saves for Trabuco Hills (14-10-1).

Esperanza 2, Troy 0--Jenny Parkison and Kathy Haerle each scored for Esperanza (9-8-7) at Troy. The Aztecs advance to Thursday’s first round at second-seeded Canyon.

Long Beach Millikan 1, Garden Grove 0--LeAnn Beausoleil scored with 3:35 remaining in the first half. Sally Heraldez had five saves for Garden Grove (6-10-5, 2-5-3).