Cougars Beat Edison in Overtime

It took Capistrano Valley 44 shots and 85 minutes, but the Cougars were finally able to score and defeat Edison, 2-0 in overtime, Thursday in the Southern Section Division I girls’ soccer quarterfinals.

The Chargers (18-4-3) upset top-ranked Capistrano Valley in the second round of the playoffs last year. Earlier this season, Edison knocked Capistrano Valley out of the Excalibur tournament quarterfinals, advancing on penalty kicks.

The Cougars (24-0-4) slammed shot after shot at Edison goalkeeper Ali Nadler in the first half, but what didn’t go wide or over the goal went straight into Nadler’s arms. Finally, in the second half the Cougars were able to settle the ball and get some shots from close in, but still couldn’t find the goal. Nadler made 17 saves.

“With all the opportunities we had, I didn’t know if any of our shots were going to fall,” Capistrano Valley Coach Jack Peterson said.

The Cougars refused to give up though, and five minutes into overtime they got one in the goal.

After Edison sophomore Lachelle Manzano made a header save in the corner of the net off a header by Cougar midfielder Kim Abbamonto, sophomore Megan Abbamonto got the rebound and lofted it to Lindsay Greco in front of the net. Greco headed it into the corner for a 1-0 Capistrano Valley lead.

“When it came to me I knew the goalie was in the middle, so I had to place my shot,” said Greco, a sophomore forward. “We knew we were going to get one in eventually, so we just kept trying.”

Now the Cougars will face fourth-seeded Newhall Hart in the semifinals.

In another Division I game:

Mission Viejo 4, Diamond Bar 0--Hannah Cochrun had three saves and recorded her 15th shutout of the season for Mission Viejo. The Diablos (19-3-4) will play the winner of today’s quarterfinal game between Palos Verdes Peninsula and Simi Valley.

In Division III:

El Modena 3, Pacifica 0--A.J. Reeder recorded her 13th shutout of the season for El Modena, which hasn’t given up a goal in its four playoff games. Monica Chavez scored two goals and Kim Needham added another for the Vanguards (17-9-1), which will play No. 2-seeded Glendora St. Lucy’s in the semifinals.

In Division IV:

Ontario Christian 4, Brethren Christian 0--Brethren Christian ended the season at 15-2-2.