Only Trip El Dorado Taking Is to Round 2

Some members of the El Dorado girls’ soccer team had to cancel their vacation plans after the Golden Hawks upset third-seeded Woodbridge, 3-2, in overtime Thursday in the first round of the Southern Section Division II girls’ soccer playoffs.

Several Golden Hawks, so sure that Woodbridge, the top-ranked team in Orange County, would defeat them, had planned to get out of town over the three-day holiday weekend.

Afterall, the Warriors (13-2-4), a team packed with high-level club players, had beaten El Dorado, 3-0, in the Excalibur Tournament and had not lost since their first game of the season, when Capistrano Valley defeated them. So, making vacation plans wasn’t such a bad idea.

However, El Dorado Coach Juan Mares thought differently and told them not to plan anything, because there would be practice on President’s Day--if they won.

“I told them I have my calendar free until March 3 [the date of the Southern Section finals],” Mares said. “And, fortunately, my girls took it to heart. It was a dream come true.”

Mares said there were tears on both sides of the field at the end of the game; however, the Golden Hawks bore big smiles and tears of joy.

“I think Woodbridge may have been a little over confident,” Mares said. “And we had much more heart.”

It was all Darci Gwartz in overtime. The sophomore midfielder scored the game-winning goal on a header off a free kick from midfielder Stacy Ellingson five minutes into the period and she made a save in the final minute. Gwartz has 12 goals and 12 assists this season.

“She played huge for us,” Mares said. “That was a great win. But we can’t rest on that. We have a long way to go.”

El Dorado (15-8-3), which is riding a five-game winning streak, will host Walnut today at 3 p.m. at Santa Ana College.

LOOKING AHEAD

El Toro, the 10th ranked team in Division I, hosts Redlands at 3 p.m. today. The Chargers, wild-card selections to the playoffs after finishing third in the South Coast League, have outscored their opponents, 6-0, in two games. Redlands, defeated Yucaipa, 4-0, in the first round.

In Division II, Edison travels to Newport Harbor in hopes of recording its 18th shutout of the season. The Chargers allowed only one goal in Sunset League play and defeated Temescal Canyon, 3-0, in the first round.

SITE CHANGE

Much to the dismay of county soccer coaches, the Southern Section finals will return to Cerritos Gahr High this season.

Coaches were elated last season when the finals were moved to Cal State Fullerton and La Mirada High. But the joy was short-lived. Fullerton is booked this year, so the finals will return to Gahr and La Mirada.

SIGNING

Santa Margarita’s Katie Frattone signed a letter of intent to play at Saint Mary’s College in Moraga, her father, David Frattone, said.

Frattone, a four-year varsity player, leads the Eagles in scoring this season with 15 goals.

If you have an item or idea for the high school girls’ soccer report, you can call us at (714) 966-5867 or e-mail us at melanie.neff@latimes.com.