Laguna Blanca goalkeeper Natalie McCaffery stopped a penalty shot and made 15 saves, but Orcutt Academy took advantage of a mistake in defensive position and scored in the 70th minute to beat the Owls 2-1 in a non-league girls soccer match on Tuesday.
“She played an absolutely brilliant game,” Laguna coach Kevin Shertzer said of McCaffery. “We have been steadily improving our defensive game and tonight was evidence of that work and goal.”
On the game-winning goal, Shertzer said: “A mistake in positioning allowed them behind us on the left side. A centering ball allowed for a close-range tap-in and the game ended with an Orcutt victory.
Orcutt scored in the fifth minute, but the Owls fought back and equalized in the 15th minute. Sadie Johnson centered the ball to Bea Lujan, who made a couple of quick touches and fired a shot a low shot into the corner.
“I couldn’t be more proud of my girls performance tonight,” said Shertzer. “We fought for every ball and didn’t allow a very good Orcutt team any breathing space. They really had to earn this victory.”
— Noozhawk sports editor Barry Punzal can be reached at bpunzal@noozhawk.com. Follow Noozhawk Sports on Twitter: @NoozhawkSports. Connect with Noozhawk on Facebook.