Wolverines edge Spirit, 2-1

The Wolfpack Wolverines girls’ Under-12 soccer team are still within striking range of first place in the Coast Soccer League Bronze Omega Division.

The Wolverines, made up of players from Huntington Beach and Fountain Valley, stayed in title contention by edging the MK (Mohammed Khakpour) Soccer Club Spirit, 2-1, Sunday at Irvine Terrace Park in Newport Beach.

The last time these two teams met, the Wolfpack had an easier time with the Spirit, winning 5-0.

This meeting, however, turned out to be a low-scoring, defensive battle.

Wolfpack appeared to grab an early 1-0 lead after midfielder Brittney Stevens took an opening pass from teammate Kelsea Arenado and drove down field to score. A late call by the officials, however, negated the goal.

Each team had several scoring opportunities in the first half. The Wolverines missed out on one when a penalty against the Spirit resulted in a free kick from 20-yards out. Wolfpack midfielder Kelsey Wetzstein sent that kick past the Spirit’s defensive wall and goalie but the ball hit the far post and bounced just outside the goal line.

The Wolverines did manage to get on the scoreboard at the 10-minute mark of the first half when forward Kaela Blanco powered past several Spirit defenders for a breakaway goal to give Wolfpack a 1-0 lead.

That goal, and the play of goalie Abby O’Toole, allowed the Wolverines to take that lead into halftime.

The Spirit tied the score on a goal just minutes into the second half on a breakaway shot that just slipped past Wolfpack goalie Keana Collier.

That goal was just the second scored against Wolfpack in nine league games.

The 1-1 score stood until the closing minutes of the game but the tie appeared to be broken when a crossing pass from Wolfpack midfielder Caitlin Bartusick to teammate Katie Lespier led to the go-ahead goal and a 2-1 lead. As had happened to the Wolverines earlier in the match, the potential goal also was negated, this time by an offsides call.

Undaunted, Lespier immediately brought the ball back up field and past several Spirit defenders to bury the ball in the top corner of the net to give Wolfpack the lead for good at 2-1.