Esperanza Again Rallies for Victory

Esperanza rallied for another victory Tuesday, defeating Aliso Niguel, 3-2, in overtime in the second round of the Division I Southern Section girls’ soccer playoffs at Esperanza.

The Aztecs, a wild-card selection, have had to come back in their three playoffs game.

“In every game we’ve been down by one goal and then something just happens,” Esperanza Coach Trevor Ickes said. “This team hasn’t shown their true character until the last few weeks.”

After taking a 1-0 lead in the first half, the Aztecs fell behind, 2-1, early in the second and Aliso Niguel held them off until the final three minutes of regulation.

After an impressive sliding save by Wolverine defender Erin Burkenshaw at the post, Esperanza was awarded a penalty kick on the ensuing throw-in for a hand ball in the box. Junior forward Janelle Raaff drilled the free shot by goalkeeper Taryn Acosta to tie the score, 2-2.

Seven minutes into overtime freshman forward Adrienne Lindsey scored the winning goal. A direct kick bounced about 10 yards in front of the goal over Lindsey’s head and she followed it in and slammed a shot at Acosta, who dived and knocked down the ball, but it rolled into the goal.

Esperanza, ranked 10th in the final county poll, scored on its first shot of the game, when the Wolverines failed to clear the ball and Raaff knocked the ball into the corner of the goal from 20 yards with 15 minutes left in the half.

The Wolverines (14-3-5), ranked fifth, came back 13 minutes into the second half, when Kim Devine scored her 22nd goal of the season. Minutes later, forward Tessa Baker gave Aliso Niguel a 2-1 lead.

“We were there,” Wolverine Coach Randy Dodge said. “We had our opportunities. But, this was what a [playoff] game is supposed to be. It was great, unfortunately someone had to lose.”

Esperanza will play Sunset League rival Los Alamitos in Thursday’s quarterfinals.