Cougars Give Up Nothing in Rolling to Excalibur Title

Capistrano Valley has another sword to hang in its trophy case after defeating Woodbridge, 2-0, in the championship game of Excalibur girls’ soccer tournament Wednesday at Foothill.

The second-ranked Cougars (10-1) took home the Excalibur sword for the second consecutive season. They scored 18 goals while shutting out their five opponents.

The victory over fourth-ranked Woodbridge was Capistrano Valley’s ninth shutout in 11 games, during which it outscored its opponents, 31-2.

Capistrano Valley, which defeated No. 3 Santa Margarita, 1-0, in the semifinals, scored the only goal it would need five minutes into the game, when Ashley Casas passed from the wing to Kristen Moore, who avoided a sliding tackle by Woodbridge goalkeeper Kacee Jewell and put the ball in the corner of the goal.

The Cougars scored their insurance goal two minutes into the second half. Jewell initially made a leaping save but Capistrano Valley kept the ball in play in front of the net, with Jessica Allen heading the ball past Jewell for the goal.

Woodbridge (7-2), coming off a 3-1 semifinal victory over West Hills Chaminade, the defending Southern Section Division IV champion, had a few chances to make a game of it. In the first half, sophomore Ina Kain had a shot that hit the crossbar and bounce in front of the goal, but Cougar defenders were there to clear it. In the second half, an offsides call wiped out an apparent goal.

“We hit the wall in the second half,” Woodbridge Coach Jon Szczuka said. “You have to get the breaks when you play [Capistrano Valley]. They aren’t going to lose, unless someone gets some breaks.”

In the third-place game:

Santa Margarita 1, West Hills Chaminade 0--Katie Rivera scored in the second half. Julie Peterson and Lauren Kent combined for six saves for the Eagles (7-3).

In pool play at the Whittier Pioneer tournament:

Whittier Christian 2, Santa Fe Springs Santa Fe 0--Megan Brennan and Ashley Plant scored goals.