Portola girls soccer slips past Crean Lutheran to reach D2 quarterfinals

IRVINE — Portola girls soccer coach Sam Ezratty expected a defensive battle in the team’s CIF-SS Division 2 second-round game against Crean Lutheran on Saturday. The Bulldogs were able to get a first-half goal from Taylor Strickland and rode their defense to a 1-0 victory at Portola High. Portola (11-3-5) will host San Marino on Wednesday, Feb. 18, in the quarterfinals. “We knew they were strong on defense,” Ezratty said. “We knew we were strong on defense. So kind of thought...