San Clemente Wins, Goes Undefeated in League to Claim South Coast Title

The last time these teams met, it took until the 83rd minute before Aliso Niguel could score on a penalty kick, tying San Clemente in an ending some considered controversial. On Wednesday night at Aliso Niguel High, the top-ranked Tritons made sure there would be no dramatic finishes this time.

San Clemente’s girls soccer team allowed no shots on goal -- not even a shot attempt -- in the second half, and thanks to a goal by senior Tessa Andujar in the 58th minute, the Tritons nipped the Wolverines, 1-0, to finish undefeated in South Coast play and claim the league title on the last day of the regular season.

San Clemente (15-2-7, 5-0-3) captured the title outright after Mission Viejo, which was tied for first place with the Tritons after losing to them on Monday, dropped a 2-1 decision to fourth-place Trabuco Hills on Wednesday. It is San Clemente's eighth South Coast League title in the past 12 years. The Diablos finished 4-3-1.

“It’s wonderful,” said Tritons coach Stacey Finnerty, who was visibly exhausted after the game. “I’m really proud of the team.”

At the beginning of the season, San Clemente was ranked No. 2 in the CIF Southern Section Division 1 coaches' polls. At the beginning of this week, the Tritons were No. 1 and appear to be peaking at just the right time -- playoff time.

San Clemente has not lost a match in 2011 (its last loss was Dec. 29 against Tesoro) and has seven shutout victories over that span. Since tying Aliso Niguel, 1-1, two weeks ago, the Tritons have not allowed a goal and have outscored the opposition in their last four matches, 15-0.

Against Aliso Niguel (10-5-4, 2-2-3), which finished third in league and will advance to the playoffs, San Clemente was shaky at times in the first half as the Wolverines had three shots on goal compared to the Tritons’ two. But Tritons junior goalkeeper Sheridan Hapsic played another outstanding game, stopping all three shots, including a diving stop on a low line-drive by Lindsay Doyle just inside the right post.

The Tritons avoided their eighth tie of the season and fourth in league with 22 minutes remaining when Frannie Coxe sent a direct kick from 50 yards away inside the 18 to junior Janae Cousineau, who passed the ball to her left to Andujar. The speedy Andujar spun to her left and her hard shot appeared to go off the chest of the Wolverines' sensational goalkeeper, Sammy Jo Prud’homme, and over her head into the net.

“Honestly, I didn’t think it was going to go in, but it was a big relief,” Andujar said. “It was right at her. I just hit it hard. We really wanted to win tonight, and to get a goal in my last [regular-season] game, and to win league, is really exciting.”

San Clemente’s defense went on to dominate play the final 20 minutes, keeping the Wolverines from getting inside the Tritons' 18. Coxe nearly scored a goal on her third shot attempt in the final minutes,but Prud’homme tipped it off the crossbar.

“Our defense creates goals,” Finnerty said. “That goal gave us a breath of fresh air.”

Aliso Niguel coach Randy Dodge said he was pleased with his team’s play and is confident that the Wolverines will bounce back and be ready for the playoffs.

“I thought we were amazing tonight,” Dodge said. “I thought we dominated play in the first half and in the first 20 minutes of the second half, until the mistake. We were without our best attacker, Brenna Isbell, who was injured, but it was a very defensive match.”

San Clemente will be going after its sixth Division I title in the past 12 years. Last season, the Tritons came within a game of winning the title and possibly repeating as state champions. They lost twice to top-ranked Esperanza.

The road to the championship starts Monday, when bracket pairings will be announced, and San Clemente could -- and should -- be the top-seeded team when the playoffs begin next week.