No. 2 Cougars Face Up to Challenge

Capistrano Valley’s Ashley Casas shook off a forearm to the face from Esperanza goalkeeper Kristen Skinner, and moments later popped the ball over Skinner’s head for the eventual winning goal in the visiting Cougars’ 2-1 victory in nonleague girls’ soccer Tuesday.

The forearm came early in the second half after a missed shot attempt by the No. 2 Cougars. As Casas, a 5-foot-2 forward, went to rejoin the action, Skinner, who stands 5-9, threw out her arm and hit Casas in the side of the head. A shaken Casas stumbled, shook her head and returned to play. No foul was called.

“She really got me,” said Casas, a junior. “I couldn’t even hear out of this ear for a couple minutes. She just laughed after she did it and I laughed back. When I saw I had a chance to score, I knew I could get her back. I get knocked down all the time, but I always get up.”

Along with Casas’ goal, a first-half goal by senior midfielder Megan Abbamonto gave the Cougars a 2-0 lead. Seventh-ranked Esperanza mounted a fierce second-half attack with nine shots on goal but couldn’t get the equalizer.

The Cougars, who average more than 20 shots a game, took only eight. Esperanza took 15.

Erin Clewett pulled the Aztecs to within one when she knocked in a rebound off a save by Cougar goalkeeper Staci Sinkway 17 minutes into the half.

Several other scoring opportunities were thwarted by Sinkway and the Cougar defense, including a blast by Carly Murphy that a leaping Sinkway knocked over the crossbar. Sinkway finished with six saves.

In the Ocean View tournament:

No. 1 Mission Viejo 1, Laguna Hills 0--The Diablos (9-0) scored a first-half goal to win the title at Golden West College. Lakewood Mayfair finished third with a 4-2 victory over Irvine.

In the Santa Ana tournament:

Santa Ana 2, Saddleback 1--Tournament Most Valuable Player, Ruth Garcia scored the game-winner with two minutes remaining for Santa Ana (6-3-0) in the championship game.