Pacifica Christian Orange County girls’ soccer stays hot, edges Tarbut V’Torah

Every season seems to bring firsts for the Pacifica Christian Orange County High girls’ soccer team, and that will happen when your school has only been open for two-plus years.

Last season, the Tritons had their first varsity season as a freelance team. This season, they’re in a league for the first time.

Not only is Pacifica Christian in a league, but it is in contention for the San Joaquin League title. The Tritons stayed in the hunt Wednesday afternoon after registering a 2-1 victory over Tarbut V’Torah at Vanguard University.

Juniors Corrine Carlson and Alyssa Smith scored for Pacifica Christian, ranked No. 10 in CIF Southern Section Division 6. Coach Brandon Gonzalez’s Tritons improved to 13-1-0 overall and 5-1-0 in league. With four league matches remaining, they’re chasing Saddleback Valley Christian, and they have their second league showdown with the Warriors (6-0-0 in league) on Tuesday on the road.

Saddleback Valley Christian won the teams’ first league meeting, 4-1 on Dec. 22.

“We played them pretty early in the season, and we were still trying to find our rhythm,” Smith said. “I think it’ll be a much better game, a much closer game this time around.”

Smith showed good rhythm on her goal in the 67th minute, which would stand up as the game winner. She took a through ball from fellow junior Sadie Hill in the box and stayed calm, tapping it into the right corner of the net.

It was Smith’s team-best 13th goal this season; Hill is second with 12 goals.

Carlson scored in the 16th minute for Pacifica Christian, off a cross from the right from sophomore Brooklyn Motske. Tarbut V’Torah (4-6, 0-6) answered in the 20th minute when Meskie Taylor scored.

But the Tritons would withstand a couple of dangerous free kicks late. Freshman goalkeeper Jo Snider played big, making seven saves.

Pacifica Christian needed a goalkeeper coming into the season, and Snider has delivered. Freshman Marrisa Davidson, junior Johanna Diaz and the team’s only senior starter, Olivia Garcia, make up the back line.

Gonzalez’s team finished 17-3 a season ago, but the 13-1 mark this season means more as the schedule has gotten tougher. The Tritons resume league play Friday at 3 p.m. at Vanguard against Rowland Heights Southlands Christian.

“Last year, as a freelance school, we really had to travel a lot more,” Gonzalez said. “We had to play anybody who could play us, especially this late in the year when most schools are in league play. I’m enjoying being in a league. It’s creating good rivalries, it’s creating good competition.”

matthew.szabo@latimes.com

Twitter: @mjszabo