Unexpected Goals Dominate Soccer Rivalry

With two of the county’s best girls’ soccer teams locked in a stalemate, a fluke play provided the margin of victory . . . again.

Top-ranked Capistrano Valley needed an own goal to squeak past third-ranked Mission Viejo, 1-0, in a South Coast League game Thursday.

In last season’s Southern Section Division I championship game, Mission Viejo beat Capistrano Valley, 1-0, on an own goal.

Thursday, the Cougars’ decisive goal came with 15 minutes remaining when Mission Viejo goalkeeper Hannah Cochrun made an apparent save, but teammate Chelsea Tallcott collided with her and jarred the ball loose, causing it to trickle over the goal line.

“Sometimes the luck just goes your way and some days it doesn’t,” Capistrano Valley senior Chandra King said.

In the final three minutes of last season’s Division I title game, Mission Viejo got the kind bounce when Capistrano Valley goalkeeper Haley Kuhn apparently made a save but was jostled, and she inadvertently knocked the ball into her own goal.

Ugly goals in this rivalry don’t seem to surprise King, a four-year varsity player.

“It seems that whenever we play Mission, there aren’t a lot of great goals,” King said.

Said Capistrano Valley Coach Jack Peterson: “When these teams get together, it’s a war. You just have to find any way to win.”

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Thursday’s victory was the only game for Capistrano Valley (13-0-3, 4-0-1 in league) last week because Tuesday’s game with San Clemente had to be rescheduled after referees failed to show up.

Peterson hopes to reschedule the game for early February, but for now, his team could use the extra rest.

Three key players left Thursday’s game with injuries, so the Cougars can use this week to recuperate with no games scheduled during finals.

Sophomore Ashley Casas is on crutches with a severe ankle injury and is out indefinitely, Peterson said, although she did not suffer any major fractures. Lindsay Greco (ankle) and Tiffany Landgraff (toe) suffered less severe injuries, and both could be ready next week.

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Many expected Santa Ana to defeat three-time defending state champion Calvary Chapel in a nonleague wrestling meet last week.

But the Saints, ranked No. 1 in Orange County, were still pumped about a 43-21 victory over the second-ranked Eagles in front of a packed gymnasium at Santa Ana.

“Sure, on paper, everyone said we were No. 1 and thought we should win,” said Santa Ana junior Gilbert Melendez. “But we had to prove that we could win it.

“I think some people had their doubts, but we earned some respect. Our classmates have been congratulating us. It’s been great.”

It was Calvary Chapel’s first dual-meet loss to a county opponent since 1991. Calvary Chapel has won five of the last six state wrestling titles.

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Servite senior forward Matt Terry continues his assault on the school’s soccer record book.

Terry scored two goals last week to increase his career total to 46, Scott McGuire, who graduated in 1984, held the previous record at 43.

Last week, Terry scored the only goal in a 1-0 victory over Westminster and he scored once and assisted on another goal in a 2-1 victory over Santa Ana.

Terry, who is 6 feet 2 and 185 pounds, has 17 goals in 18 games this season and is being recruited by UC Irvine, St. Mary’s, Cal State Fullerton and California.

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One of this week’s best matchups features second-ranked Edison (17-4, 5-0) hosting third-ranked Marina (19-2, 4-1) in a key Sunset League girls’ basketball game at 7 p.m. Thursday.

In their first meeting this season, Edison rallied from a nine-point, fourth-quarter deficit to beat the defending league champs, 45-42.

A victory would be a big step toward a league title for the Chargers, who last won a Sunset League championship with UCLA’s Marie Philman leading the way in 1996.

A key boys’ basketball matchup features ninth-ranked Tustin (16-5, 4-1) playing at seventh-ranked Ocean View (17-4, 5-0) at 7 p.m. Friday. Ocean View won the first meeting, 59-44.

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Newport Harbor is off to its best start in school history, but it caught fourth-year Coach Larry Hirst a bit off guard.

The Sailors (19-3, 5-1 in league) have endured a tough schedule that included second-ranked Capistrano Valley, third-ranked Santa Margarita and fifth-ranked Brea Olinda.

“If you would’ve told me that we’d be [19-3], I would’ve called you crazy,” Hirst said. “Two of the biggest factors we’ve been successful is that this is the most unselfish team I’ve ever coached and it’s one of the hardest working group of guys I’ve been around.”