Valencia Advances to Title Game

The Valencia girls’ soccer team had not played a close game in the Southern Section Division III playoffs.

That ended in Tuesday’s semifinal when the Tigers beat Glendora St. Lucy’s, the defending co-champion, 1-0, at Valencia High.

Forward Alie Nunez scored from 10 yards in the 37th minute, off an assist from Katie Eatherton. Nunez leads the Tigers, who play Santa Margarita on Saturday, with 43 goals.

“There was a lot of pressure on me,” the 5-foot-1 senior said of her goal. “Ever since the day started, people have been asking me, ‘How many goals are you going to score today?’ ”

The Tigers (24-4), Orange League champions, had been averaging almost five goals a game, and have outscored playoff opponents, 14-3.

Nunez and Eatherton have been a potent scoring tandem all season. “Alie’s the person I look for,” Eatherton said.

Valencia Coach Dean Winther was pleased with the victory, which sent the Tigers into their first title game, but he was uncomfortable with the score.

“They pressured us in the middle,” he said. “Normally, we control the middle. They beat us to the ball every time.”

Nunez nearly scored when she dribbled through the legs of Cindy Stephens near midfield in the second half. When goalkeeper Casandra Criscione came out to defend, Nunez got past her. But Stephens slid in front of the goal and stopped the shot.

St. Lucy’s (21-6-1) was without starting sweeper Danielle Craddick, who received two yellow cards in the Regents’ quarterfinal victory over Temple City.

Goalkeeper Ashley Nelson preserved the victory with five crucial saves in the final 15 minutes.