SOUTHERN SECTION CHAMPIONSHIPS : Marina Has Sights Set on Third Title : Girls’ soccer: Vikings, who play Claremont tonight, seek to become second team to win three straight Division I titles.

Orange County has had its share of girls’ soccer dynasties.

In the late 1980s, Mission Viejo won three consecutive Southern Section titles and set a national record by going 84 games without a loss. In the early ‘90s, El Toro’s streak reached 39, and the Chargers won two consecutive section titles and were runners-up for a third.

And now there’s Marina.

At 8 tonight, the Vikings will try to become the second team to win three consecutive Division I titles when they play Claremont at Cerritos Gahr High. Marina has an unbeaten streak of its own--60 games, third longest in section history.

With the most dangerous offense and one of the stingiest defenses around, the Vikings have shown the ability to overwhelm even the most skilled opponents.

But how do they match up with history? How would they fare against Mission Viejo or El Toro in its prime?

Of course, opinions are mixed. Marina Coach Bobby Bruch doesn’t want to discuss it yet. “I don’t want to talk about it until after the game Friday because their streaks are over and ours isn’t,” said Bruch, 83-8-8 in four seasons at Marina.

“This is a really unique team,” Bruch added, “and they are putting an era on the line.”

Jim Dutton coached Mission Viejo when Julie Foudy was dominating for the Diablos. Foudy, now on the world champion U.S. women’s team, was South Coast League player of the year four times and Division 4-A offensive MVP three times.

Dutton, now an assistant at Santa Margarita, which lost to Marina in the semifinals Tuesday, said his teams were special because they were stocked with club players from the area.

“We had 20 players who could walk out on the field and play,” Dutton said. “Marina’s got a good team, but I still like some of my teams. It’s tough to compare different eras. It’s like arguing whether Joe Louis is better than Muhammad Ali.”

El Toro under Coach Kerry Krause could trade punches with anyone. Led by Shawn Viloria, who scored 40 goals as a senior in 1990-91, despite being reined in by Krause against weaker opponents, the Chargers extended the South Coast League’s streak to six consecutive section titles.

“I felt that year that no one could beat us,” Krause said. “I still feel that way. That was a great high school soccer team--all the parts fit. I’m sure Jim Dutton felt that way about his teams. I’m sure Bobby feels that way too.

“I hope they beat Claremont. And I hope they win another one too. Then we won’t be having this conversation. People will say they are the best team ever.”