BOYS’ SOCCER ROUNDUP : No. 8 Esperanza Alone at the Top After Shutting Out Los Alamitos

Esperanza arrived at Wednesday’s game tied for first place with two other ranked teams in the Sunset League but went home alone atop the standings.

The Aztecs, ranked eighth in Orange County, made a first-half goal stand up and defeated third-ranked Los Alamitos, 1-0, at Laurel High School in Los Alamitos.

The victory, coupled with No. 2 Fountain Valley’s 1-0 loss to Edison, put Esperanza (6-3-3, 2-0) in first place in the league race.

“Starting 2-0 is vital because in this league everybody can beat anybody,” Aztec Coach Kino Oaxaca said. “Look at all the teams ranked in the top 10 in this league.”

The Griffins (9-3-3, 1-1) had more scoring opportunities, including six indirect kicks from just outside the penalty box, but each time Esperanza’s defense kept the ball away from the goal.

Esperanza took advantage of its best scoring chance just before halftime.

Standing a few yards from the corner kick area, Shaun Anderson lofted a throw-in toward teammate Jason Wolfe, who then flicked it into the goalkeeper box with the side of his head.

Ryan Johnson was waiting for the pass and lined the ball off a short hop into the open net.

“I figured it was going to be a 1-0 game mainly because of the weather,” Oaxaca said. “They’re an excellent team and we’re lucky to get a win. But I’d rather be lucky than good sometimes.”

Los Alamitos came close to tying the score midway through the second half when Ryan Davis found enough room to get a pass through to Jeff Leitner, but Leitner’s shot bounced off the post and out of play.

Oaxaca credited the whole defense for the victory, but singled out junior halfback Randy Mitchell who had been a substitute until becoming a starter in a 3-1 victory over Edison last Friday.

“Randy Mitchell played a great game,” Oaxaca said. “I think he was one of the differences in sparking the defense.”