LAFC’s Girls Under 18 Team Finishes Second in 2006 Rangers Classic

LAFC’s Girls Under 18 team exploded for five goals in last Sunday’s final match to clinch second place in the Fullerton Rangers Classic held July 29-30.

Defeating Cerritos SC Pride in the concluding match, 5-1, LAFC was led by two breakaway goals from Alex Tunks, two more by Kelsey Carapia, and a header by Lauren MacAulay off a cross by Carapia.

The team opened the tournament on Saturday morning against the ACC Mavericks from Berkeley, Calif., fighting back from a 2-0 deficit in the first half to a narrow 2-1 defeat. LAFC’s single goal came from a hard shot from the left side by midfielder Lauren MacAulay.

In the afternoon match, the girls beat Corinthians Air Force One of San Bernardino, 1-0. Anja Klotzle of the LAFC Girls Under 17 Silver Elite team scored the only goal of the match in a close, hard-fought battle.

Defenders Gabi Marshall, Brianna Carlos, Megan O’Toole, Jessica Pih (another Girls Under 17 guest player) and Keeper Taylor Thurman shut out the Corinthians’ offense.

On Sunday morning, LAFC faced its old nemesis, ASC Express. The LAFC girls took an early lead, with MacAulay scoring first, early in the first half.

ASE battled back to a 1-1 tie at halftime and clinched a 2-1 win in the second half.

Despite a fierce comeback effort by LAFC, the girls could not score the tying goal against the ultimate tournament champions.

Relying on five guest players from LAFC’s Girls Under 17 and Girls Under 16 teams, the quality of the team’s play improved every half, concluding with the five-goal eruption in the final match.

LAFC, the largest soccer club in the San Gabriel Valley, is actively recruiting players for its Girls Under 16-Girls Under 19 teams.

Information on teams and practices can be found at www.lafcsoccer.com.