Top 2 Teams Tie in Showdown

Things looked dismal for the Capistrano Valley girls’ soccer team Thursday, after falling behind to Mission Viejo in the first half of the South Coast League’s title game. But the top-ranked Cougars dug deep at halftime and rallied to earn a 1-1 tie and their second consecutive league title.

The Cougars (21-0-4, 8-0-2) struggled in the first half, as No. 2 Mission Viejo (16-3-4, 7-0-3) took a 1-0 lead 20 minutes into the game. After Capistrano Valley sophomore goalkeeper Haley Kuhn tipped up a shot by senior Jenny Mescher, the ball fell in front of the goal and senior striker Kate Desmond knocked it in for the Diablos’ lead.

The Cougars then lost all motivation, struggling with their passes, turning the ball over and watching as Mission Viejo beat them to loose balls.

“I thought the girls were loose and focused before the game,” said first-year Cougar Coach Jack Peterson. “I thought they were ready. But Mission came out full blast. At halftime we talked about heart and playing harder. I told them not to get down. That’s when Kim [Abbamonto] said, ‘We’re not down. We’re mad.”

And it was a different Cougar team that stepped onto the field in the second half. Capistrano Valley dominated the second half, controlling the ball for nearly all 40 minutes and setting up play after play in front of the Diablos’ goal.

Freshman Ashley Casas finally tied the score for the Cougars, securing her team the top-seeded position in the Division I playoffs. A throw-in from the corner by sophomore Megan Abbamonto was deflected in front of the goal and Casas slammed it into the corner of the net out of reach of a diving Hannah Cochrun.

“I was ready for anything,” Casas said. “I just wanted to be there if I was needed and I got the chance.’

Mission Viejo finishes second in league and is expected to be one of the four seeded teams in Division I.