Second-Half Goals Spark Mission Viejo

Mission Viejo scored three goals in the second half to defeat Dana Hills, 4-1, in girls’ soccer Wednesday at Mission Viejo.

The Diablos, 12-3 overall and 2-0 in South Coast League, are ranked No. 4 in the county. The unranked Dolphins (7-5-4, 0-1-1) did not seem intimidated, however, and dominated the midfield for the first half to take a 1-1 tie into the halftime huddle.

The winning goal came 10 minutes into the second half, after Dana Hills was called for a foul and Mission Viejo received a free kick about 25 yards from the goal.

Mission Viejo Coach George Larsen yelled to Stacy Dillard to aim for the near post if she thought she could make it and Dillard didn’t hesitate. She sent the ball on a beautiful curve that hooked back inside the near post beyond the reach of Dana Hills goalkeeper Rachel Grossman.

The Diablos scored again about seven minutes later after Amber Skallerud crossed the ball in front of the goal and Kate Desmond volleyed it in. Nicole Avila added the final goal for Mission Viejo in the 75th minute.

Mission Viejo, which has nine returning starters, has outscored its opponents, 41-9, this season and has 10 shutouts.

Dana Hills played tenaciously and executed well in the first half, but had difficulty putting the ball in the net.

“I thought they outplayed us and deserved to have the lead [at halftime] but that’s the way soccer goes,” Larsen said.