Own Goal Sinks No. 4 Esperanza

With a little help from its opponent, sixth-ranked Los Alamitos pulled off a minor upset and took a small step toward defending its Sunset League girls’ soccer title with a 1-0 victory over No. 4 Esperanza Thursday at Los Alamitos.

Esperanza (9-3-2), playing without its leading scorer, freshman Stephanie Freeman, who injured her ankle Sunday, still managed to score--into its own goal.

Seven minutes into the game Griffin forward Brittany Savelkoul slammed a crossing pass from the right side and watched as the ball ricocheted off two players, before finally bouncing into the net off Aztec midfielder Caitlin Murphy.

“[Murphy] was playing where she was supposed to be,” said Esperanza Coach Phyllis Scarborough. “But once that goal was scored it took the wind out of our sails.”

Los Alamitos forward Niki Szlak, who was credited with the goal, was unsure how it was scored.

“I really don’t know who knocked it in,” said Szlak, when asked by Coach Rich Manning. “But we scored right? Isn’t that what matters, Coach?”

After taking the lead, Los Alamitos (8-1-3) took control, pressing the Aztecs for the majority of the game and keeping Esperanza’s defense on its heels. Aztec goalkeeper Kristen Skinner, a sophomore who finished with six saves, made a diving save in each half that kept Los Alamitos from blowing the game open.

Szlak, and teammate Monique Gillaspie, a freshman brought up from junior varsity Tuesday, controlled the ball, sending numerous crosses to Savelkoul and midfielder Sarah Kovach.

The Aztecs started the game strong, as senior forward Stacy Jarne came out pushing early. But Los Alamitos quickly took her out of her game and without Freeman, who has nine goals this season, the offense was missing its spark.

“Emotionally [Freeman’s absence] hurt us,” Scarborough said. “But we beat them last year without her. And hey, the Lakers did a great job without Shaq. It’s a long season and there is a long way to go.”