Crouch Strikes Quickly, Marina Shuts Out Oilers
Ember Crouch didn’t have time to contemplate the importance of the moment. The Marina defender scored on a free kick 90 seconds into the Vikings’ Sunset League girls’ soccer game against 10th-ranked Huntington Beach, paving the way for the 2-0 victory Thursday at Huntington Beach.
“She’s very methodical,” Marina Coach Tino Ray Younger said. “The game wasn’t going long enough for her to think about [the free kick].”
The Vikings (9-6-3, 2-1) took the early lead after Jennifer Alban was bumped off the ball by Huntington Beach defender Corine Plunkett and Marina was awarded a free kick from about 15 yards beyond the penalty box.
Crouch, one of only two seniors on the team, then blasted her shot to the right of goalkeeper Blythe Curran, who got two hands on the ball, but could only deflect it into the side of the net.
“We were excited to play this game,” said Crouch, who has four goals this season, all on set plays. “I think league [play] got us real excited and also because this was a night game.”
The Oilers (7-4-3, 0-2-1) began to pressure Marina goalkeeper Cari Delaney in the second half. In the opening minute, Kathy Shea redirected a ball that was passed into the box, but Delaney was in position to stop the shot.
Huntington Beach had its best opportunity about 15 minutes later, when Marina’s Alissa Bachelier was whistled for a hands penalty between the penalty box and the sideline. Shea then sent the free kick curling toward the near post, but Delaney stuck both fists in the air and knocked the ball aside.
The Vikings added an insurance goal with about two minutes left in the game. Curran came off her line to chase down a crossing pass, but the ball was deflected behind her and Bachelier scored her first goal of the season.
Delaney stopped seven shots in recording her ninth shutout.
In other Sunset League games:
Esperanza 2, Edison 0--Janelle Raaff scored in the 29th and 50th minutes for Esperanza (8-5-5, 2-1) and goalkeeper Kristin Skinner posted her fourth shutout of the season with three saves.
Los Alamitos 4, Fountain Valley 0--Sarah Kroneberger scored two goals for Los Alamitos (13-1-3, 2-0-1) and freshman goalkeeper Ashley DeAlejandro got her 13th shutout of the season.
