FULLERTON >> The La Habra girls soccer team has been enjoying its best season in several years, and the Highlanders’ come-from-behind, Freeway League victory over Sunny Hills 3-2 in overtime on Thursday is arguably the most notable victory of all.
La Habra (14-4-1, 4-1) trailed 2-0 after the first half and then scored two in the second to tie the score, ultimately sending the contest to overtime at Sunny Hills High.
Nicol Sanchez’s goal, coming off a throw-in from freshman McKenzie Henao about five minutes into the first overtime, wound up being the game winner.
Jasmin Martinez (11) of La Habra and Vanessa Valdez (15) of Sunny Hills battle for the ball during a Freeway League girls soccer game at Sunny Hills High in Fullerton on Thursday, January 20, 2022. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Elisa Arce (18) La Habra attempts to head the ball into the goal past goal keeper Katie Sweeney of Sunny Hills during a Freeway League girls soccer game at Sunny Hills High in Fullerton on Thursday, January 20, 2022. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
La Habra celebrates after defeating Sunny Hills in overtime during a Freeway League girls soccer game at Sunny Hills High in Fullerton on Thursday, January 20, 2022. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Cheyenne Dohan (32) of Sunny Hills is helped off the field by Sunny Hills head coach Jeff Gordon after Dohan kneed in her side during a Freeway League girls soccer game against La Habra at Sunny Hills High in Fullerton on Thursday, January 20, 2022. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Cheyenne Dohan (32) of Sunny Hills and Taylor Staveley (21) of La Habra make contact as they race for the ball during a Freeway League girls soccer game at Sunny Hills High in Fullerton on Thursday, January 20, 2022. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Carissa McCarty (36) of La Habra and Rachael Haan (11) of Sunny Hills make contact as they battle for the ball during a Freeway League girls soccer game at Sunny Hills High in Fullerton on Thursday, January 20, 2022. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
An injured Brianna Figueroa (17) of Sunny Hills is helped off the field by Sheccid Carrillo of (6) La Habra during a Freeway League girls soccer game at Sunny Hills High in Fullerton on Thursday, January 20, 2022. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Rachael Haan (11), left, and Lauren Won (22) of Sunny Hills celebrate after Haan scored a goal against La Habra during a Freeway League girls soccer game at Sunny Hills High in Fullerton on Thursday, January 20, 2022. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Nicol Sanchez (26) of La Habra celebrates with teammate Taylor Staveley (21) after Sanchez scored the winning goal in overtime during a Freeway League girls soccer game against Sunny Hills at Sunny Hills High in Fullerton on Thursday, January 20, 2022. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Sunny Hills head coach Jeff Gordon rallies his team during a Freeway League girls soccer game against La Habra at Sunny Hills High in Fullerton on Thursday, January 20, 2022. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
McKenzie Henao (25) of La Habra and Anika Osborne (4) of Sunny Hills battle for the ball during Freeway League girls soccer game at Sunny Hills High in Fullerton on Thursday, January 20, 2022. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
La Habra’s Nicole Munoz (9), left, is congratulated by Madison Lopez (8) and Munoz scored a goal against Sunny Hills in a Freeway League girls soccer game at Sunny Hills High in Fullerton on Thursday, January 20, 2022. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
La Habra head coach Steve Tatone speaks to players before a Freeway League girls soccer game against Sunny Hills at Sunny Hills High in Fullerton on Thursday, January 20, 2022. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Overtime in the Freeway League consists of two 10-minute periods. So unlike a “golden goal” situation, where the game ends with the first goal, the Highlanders had to keep the Lancers (15-3-1, 2-2) from scoring for 15 minutes after Sanchez’s goal.
The Highlanders’ victory is their second this season against the Lancers.
“Since I got here … we always talk about playing the game to score the goals and have fun,” Highlanders first-year coach Steve Tatone said. “I always tell them to try to capture the joy from the little girl that had pigtails and ribbons in her hair when you first fell in love with this game.”
With five league games remaining, the Highlanders have already matched their league victory total from last season.
“You have to be a strong team in order to get back up and that’s what we did,” Sanchez said of the goal. “It felt good because I was doing something for the team.”
Freshman Lauren Won scored five minutes into the match to give the Lancers an early lead.
The Lancers made it 2-0 in the 25th minute on a goal from Rachel Haan, which came off a free kick from Anika Osborne.
Then the Highlanders, who dominated play in the second half, scored all three goals on set pieces.
Sheccid Carillo’s header, coming off a corner kick from Jasmin Martinez, got La Habra on the board 12 minutes into the second.
The Highlanders continued having multiple scoring chances after the first goal but kept coming up empty.
With 15 minutes left in regulation, La Habra finally got the goal it needed, this one coming from Nicole Munoz.
Tatone is coaching his final game for the Highlanders on Feb. 2, the final game of the regular season.
Tatone, who coached at Northwood and Orange Lutheran, said he is moving out of state so his wife can take advantage of a job opportunity.
Related Articles
Kennedy boys soccer back on track, driving toward league title, playoff success
Los Alamitos boys soccer takes control of Surf League race with win over Edison
Cypress girls soccer lands early knockout against league rival Pacifica
Santa Ana Valley boys soccer polishing its game as CIF playoffs approach
CIF-SS girls soccer polls, Jan. 18
Assistant coach Diego Gonzalez will take over the head coaching duties.
“It’s breaking my heart because it feels like we could have a powerhouse here,” Tatone said.
