Woodbridge Gets Leg Up in Soccer

Woodbridge scored three second-half goals and defeated Aliso Niguel, 3-1, in a Sea View League girls’ soccer game Thursday at Aliso Niguel.

It was the first league loss in more than two years for No. 5 Aliso Niguel (14-2-1, 1-1-0), which won back-to-back titles in the Pacific Coast and Sea View leagues.

The fourth-ranked Warriors (9-1-4, 1-0-1), who lost to and tied the Wolverines last season, were coming off a disappointing tie Tuesday against Newport Harbor, and needed a victory to stay in the hunt for the league title.

“This was a big-time win for us,” Woodbridge forward Christene Johnson said. “They took the title from us last year and we want it back.”

It didn’t look promising for Woodbridge after the Wolverines controlled the flow in the first half. But even after forward Kim Devine gave Aliso Niguel a 1-0 lead midway through the second half, the Warriors refused to let down.

Five minutes after Devine’s 14th goal of the season, Johnson scored her 13th to tie the score, 1-1.

Johnson had been frustrated most of the game, just missing several chances to give her team the lead. So when Aliso Niguel defender Lauren Birkenshaw attempted to settle the ball in Wolverine territory, Johnson saw her chance, stole the ball, blew around Birkenshaw and three other defenders and slammed a shot past goalkeeper Marissa Welliver.

Ashley Swanson’s perfectly placed free kick into the upper corner with seven minutes remaining gave the Warriors a 2-1 lead.

However, the victory wasn’t secured until the closing seconds. Woodbridge goalkeeper Janelle Godges made a diving save, and on Aliso Niguel’s ensuing corner kick, with Welliver playing offense, Danielle Shank got the cleared ball and outran Welliver to score an empty-net goal.