Inoue Stands Out in County All-Star Girls’ Soccer Game

Most of the players in the Orange County senior all-star girls’ soccer game Wednesday at Chapman University got an opportunity to show how they dominated play throughout the season.

And forward Karine Inoue got an opportunity to show how she might have dominated.

Inoue, who played for the White squad, was voted into the all-star game by the coaches of the Orange County Girls’ Soccer Coaches Assn., even though she played only one game this season for Laguna Hills.

After scoring 27 goals as a junior and being selected the Pacific Coast League’s most valuable player for the second consecutive season, she broke her foot in the preseason. She returned in Laguna Hills’ loss to Woodbridge in the first round of the Southern Section Division II playoffs.

Inoue, who will head to Arizona State next season, was dangerous up front for the White squad, which lost, 2-1. She seemed to enjoy herself and scored the White squad’s only goal to tie the score after a cross from Marina’s Megan Orach in the 29th minute.

“I don’t have my speed back yet and my touch is still off,” Inoue said. “It was fun because I didn’t get to play against [these players] all year.”

The Blue squad tied the score in the 64th minute after a cross from Sommer Hammoud of Division I champion Los Alamitos found Esperanza’s Kim Gallo in front of the goal. Gallo chipped the shot over the head of goalkeeper Missy Brigman of Irvine.

Brigman also made eight saves in the second half for the White squad.

“[The players] are just relaxed and have a great time and you can see how great they play when coaches leave them alone,” said Blue squad Coach Phyllis Scarborough of Esperanza.

The Blue squad scored first in the ninth minute after Esperanza’s Heather Nelson crossed the ball and Woodbridge’s Lizzie Lemire headed it into the goal.