Savanna Finds a Silver Lining in Its 11-1 Loss

Valencia defeated Savanna, 11-1, Tuesday in Orange League girls’ soccer, but you would never have guessed that by looking at the Rebels’ sideline.

The Savanna players traded high-fives and were happy just to have scored one of only three goals allowed by Valencia (15-4, 5-0) in league play this season.

With a 2-3 record in the Orange League (2-11-2 overall), they were also happy about still being in the playoff race, trailing third-place Anaheim by two points.

“I have girls starting that have never played soccer in their life,” said first-year coach Johnny Torres, who took over a Savanna team that won just one game last season. “It’s been tough for them.”

While Torres has a roster devoid of club players, the Tigers’ starting lineup has several good players, and the advantage shows. Valencia has outscored the Orange League, 41-3, at the midway point.

Their dominance of the league concerns Coach Dean Winther, who is having a hard time keeping his team motivated. After a first-round loss in the Southern Section playoffs last season, Winther is determined to keep his defending Orange League champions focused.

“It was tough last year,” Winther said. “We rolled through league and then came up against a challenging team in the playoffs and we lost our composure. This year we played some challenging teams in the preseason, but now [league] is all we have left. It’s hard to keep up your intensity.”

The Tigers, on the verge of breaking into the county top 10, kept up the pressure on Savanna, hammering senior goalkeeper Elizabeth Avila with 36 shots. Alejandra Nunez and Katie Eatherton each scored four goals.

Avila, who had lost to Brea, 6-0, on Monday, refused to let her frustration show, even when her teammates helped increase Valencia’s lead by scoring an own goal.

“It’s hard when you’re getting beat that bad,” said Avila, who started only three games in goal last season. “I just have to go for the ball and stay focused.”

Avila finished with 15 saves for Savanna.