Chargers spike the Tritons

Edison upends No. 2 San Clemente in girls’ soccer.In an early season showdown between two highly regarded girls’ soccer teams, Edison High went on the road and defeated the San Clemente Tritons, 2-1, in nonleague play.

San Clemente was ranked sixth in the CIF-Southern Section Division I poll.

Edison scored 19 minutes into the first half when senior striker Alex Dunn was fouled in the box and the Chargers were awarded a direct penalty kick.

Junior Breanna Boies wasn’t intimidated when the Triton goalkeeper came out of the box to shake Boies’ hand and wish her luck before the penalty kick attempt; the junior precisely placed the ball into the net for a 1-0 lead.

Edison, which was coming off a 2-0 shutout of Mission Viejo, upped its lead to 2-0 at the half when, in the 33rd minute, Allyson Cerda, a newcomer to the team, scored off an assist from senior Elyse Kirmaci.

The Tritons scored their only goal three minutes into the second half on a shot by sophomore Kelli Cornell.

The defensive play of Edison’s Elysse VanLeer, Kaitlin Thulin and Carley Prendergast helped shut out the Tritons the remainder of the match.

Edison followed the win over San Clemente with a 1-1 tie against Tesoro in the opening round of the Aliso Tournament.

Tesoro struck first in the match but was denied two other scoring opportunities in the first eight minutes of play by Chargers’ keeper Cassie Becker.

Becker also stopped the Titans on two corner kicks in the first half.

In the 23rd minute, Edison senior Alex Dunn’s shot deflected off the Tesoro goalie, but freshman teammate Alexa Enlow was there for the put-back goal.

Sophomore Keenan Castillo, taking a turn protecting the Edison goal, had several key saves in the second half for the Chargers.

Edison hosts Villa Park at 3:15 p.m. today.