Wolverines Earn Second Place

Aliso Niguel secured second place in the Sea View League, and probably a top-four seeding in the Southern Section Division I girls’ soccer playoffs, when the Wolverines, ranked seventh in the county, defeated No. 9 Newport Harbor, 2-1, Thursday at Aliso Niguel.

The loss dropped Newport Harbor (10-6-4, 4-2-2) into third place. However, the Sailors have reason to celebrate, since they will make their first playoff appearance since 1993. The Sailors are currently ranked eighth in Division II.

“Newport Harbor is the most underrated team in the county,” Aliso Niguel Coach Randy Dodge said. “This is what we wanted to do, take second in league and keep our standing in the division.”

The Wolverines (18-3-1, 5-2-1), ranked third in Division I, played with only one reserve. They took a 1-0 lead less than two minutes into the game.

Kim Devine drew a tripping foul just outside the box, then Lisa Steinberg sent a direct kick in front of the box that appeared to be a cross. But Sailor goalkeeper Kilssa Tyler misjudged the ball and it sailed over her head into the far upper corner of the goal.

With under three minutes remaining in the half, Newport Harbor’s Kristen Nahim lobbed a throw-in to the far post, where Katie Younglove knocked it into the goal.

The Wolverines scored the game-winner with less than 13 minutes remaining, when a shot by Tessa Baker deflected off a Sailor defender and into the goal.

“We showed a lot of character,” Newport Harbor Coach Jason Sorrell said. “‘Our main goal was to make the playoffs. As the season went on, we started looking for more and wanted to try to win league. But we fell a little short.”

Woodbridge, top-ranked in the county, beat Irvine and won its second league title in three years.