Valencia Delays Brea March to League Title With Tie

The Brea Olinda girls’ soccer team has been waltzing through the Orange League schedule all season, but Valencia stepped into the dance with a 1-1 tie Thursday at Valencia.

Brea Olinda, 19-3-2 and 6-0-1 in league, could have clinched at least a share of the title with a victory.

The Wildcats should have little trouble finishing the season with victories next week in their final games against Savanna and Anaheim, teams Brea Olinda has defeated by a combined score of 8-0 this season.

Valencia (11-2-5, 6-1-1) is the only league team that has seriously challenge Brea Olinda this season. Brea is the defending league champion and is ranked No. 9 in the county.

“We’re not ranked, we’re not rated. We’re just a bunch of a little above-average players who all play together,” Valencia Coach Richard Leverett said.

For a while, it looked as if Valencia might pull off an upset.

Katie Eatherton headed the ball into the goal after a free kick by Rachel Ferrari to give Valencia a 1-0 lead in the 45th minute.

Valencia held the lead for about 30 minutes, but with about five minutes to play, Melissa Terpstra scored on another header after a throw-in by Tennli Ulicny.

As much as watching the victory slip away was disappointing for Valencia, its players were pleased with their effort.

“I’m happy, but I think we could have had it,” Eatherton said. “This was a big game. We were ready for it.”

Brea Olinda seemed a little stunned by Valencia’s intensity.

“These guys are a very good team and that’s the kind of intensity there will be in CIF [Southern Section playoffs],” Brea Olinda Coach Mike Knaus said.

In another Orange League game:

Western 1, Anaheim 1--Carmen Martinez scored on a chip over the goalkeeper’s head in the final five minutes for host Western (6-9-3, 0-5-3). Leonor Barajas scored in the first half for Anaheim (11-4-2, 4-2-1).