By BRENT SHAVER, Staff Writer
Woodbridge 3, Beckman 2: If playing to stay in the race for a Pacific Coast League title wasn’t enough for the Woodbridge High girls soccer team, Coach
Tim Woodcockadded another incentive for his team heading into the match with Beckman Tuesday night at
Alton Park.
“If we could avenge the only defeat that we’ve had so far (in league) we could basically say that we’ve beat all the Irvine teams,” Woodcock said. “It was all about getting one back on them.”
Woodbridge did just that, rallying from a two goal deficit with three goals in the second half for a 3-2 victory over the Patriots.
Game summary.
Beckman defeated Woodbridge, 2-0, the first time the two teams met. It was Woodbridge’s only loss in league. Tuesday’s result improved the Warriors’ record to 7-5-6 overall and 4-1-1 in league. Woodbridge stayed right on the heels of Corona del Mar (5-0-1 in league), which was a 2-0 winner over Northwood on Tuesday at Meadowood Park. Nikki Martino put Beckman two goals ahead of Woodbridge in the first half. But at halftime Woodcock made some changes, primarily adding an extra forward up top. “We played some great stuff in the first half and second half, but really stepped it up with the intensity in the second half,” Woodcock said.
Less than 15 minutes into the second half, Woodbridge got on the board.
Grayson Galbraith sent a hard, low shot on goal that Beckman keeper Eileen Zavala was able to block. But
Lindsey Mitchell came charging in to knock in the rebound.
Zavala was hurt on the play and ended up having to leave the game.
Eight minutes later, defender Kayla Benedetti scored on a well-placed free kick. She lofted a shot over the outstretched arms of pressed into duty field player turned keeper Haley Ribiero and into the upper right corner of the net from 30 yards out.
And then
Madison Krauser finished off the scoring for Woodbridge three minutes after that. Benedetti sent a cross into the box from right to left off a free kick. The ball made its way across the Beckman defense to Krauser, who made a move to her right and then buried a high, hard shot.
Krauser was a dynamo for Woodbridge throughout the final 40 minutes, constantly forcing the action.
“We like to play organized and structured, but when Madi gets it she can draw players and get around them,” Woodcock said. “She beats one and then beats another and then you have two players out of position. It is great.”
It was the second straight tough loss for Beckman (7-4-6, 3-3-0), which fell to league-leading Corona del Mar last week, 1-0, on a goal in the second half.
“Woodbridge made some great adjustments,” Beckman Coach Gordon Scott said. “They put a girl in front of Nikki (Martino) and tried to take her away the best they could. They pressed us and played more direct. They challenged us on the dribble and it opened our defense up a little bit."
There was also a scary moment late in the game when Beckman sophomore defender Molly Cody went to the ground after apparently being elbowed in the back of the head while going up for a challenge.
Cody tried to stand up, but after taking a step and being off balance was told to lie back down on the field. The paramedics were eventually called.
She never lost consciousness, according to Scott and Beckman Athletic Director Lance Neal, and was taken to a nearby hospital for an evaluation.
On Wednesday, Woodbridge High School’s 
Woodbridge 1, Corona del Mar 2: The Warriors (4-3-1 League, 7-7-6 Overall) played an aggressive and exciting match against the Pacific Coast League-leading Sea Kings (7-0-1, 13-2-4) but were edged 2-1 Tuesday afternoon at