Taylor’s goal was the second of three Los Alamitos goals in a 14-minute span. The Griffins are that dangerous.
No team in league has been able to stop them for an entire match.
Los Alamitos (15-2-4, 6-0 in league), ranked No. 2 in the CIF Southern Section Division I coaches’ poll, is on track to win another league championship.
Newport Harbor is going in the opposite direction.
Four league matches remain for the Sailors (4-10-1, 2-4) to make a push at the playoffs.
The one positive Coach Larry Draluck pointed out was three of those matches are at home.
“One bad thing is that we’re playing Esperanza [Monday],” Draluck said of the No. 6-ranked team.
Both teams will be in must-win mode.
In Esperanza’s case, if the Aztecs (16-3-1, 4-2) want a shot at first place, they need to keep winning and beat Los Alamitos next week, then hope the Griffins drop another match.
The Sailors, who are tied for third place with Edison, are fighting for their postseason livelihood. They put up a valiant effort in the first half Thursday.
The defense went into the break confident after shutting down Los Alamitos’ attack, which had scored 12 goals in its first five league contests.
The problem the Sailors faced was that they were in the same situation other clubs have been in against the Griffins in league.
The opposition hasn’t been able to muster much.
Los Alamitos has allowed two goals, one to Esperanza and Marina, two teams tied for second place in league and trailing the Griffins.
The first 15 minutes offered Newport Harbor three scoring chances. None of the Sailors finished.
Out of the three, the second one looked the most promising.
Midfielder Mary Yeager fed striker Lauren Devoy a pass to the right, near the Sailors’ sideline.
