Aliso Niguel girls soccer beats San Clemente for South Coast League title

Paige Balducci scores on a penalty kick as Wolverines claim first league crown since 2020

Published on Feb. 4, 2026

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The Aliso Niguel girls soccer team defeated San Clemente 1-0 on Tuesday night to claim the South Coast League championship. Paige Balducci scored on a penalty kick in the 12th minute, and goalkeeper Addison Rudel made five saves to preserve the victory. Aliso Niguel, ranked 7th in Orange County, needed to beat the 5th-ranked San Clemente squad to win the league title.

Why it matters

This victory marks a significant milestone for the Aliso Niguel girls soccer program, as it is their first South Coast League title since 2020. The team's resurgence under new head coach Sean Melendez has been impressive, as they have now won the league championship and the Best in the West tournament this season.

The details

Aliso Niguel was awarded a penalty kick in the 12th minute after a hand ball against San Clemente. Paige Balducci converted the penalty to give the Wolverines the only goal they would need. Goalkeeper Addison Rudel made five saves to preserve the 1-0 victory. Aliso Niguel was playing without injured forward Claire Hirakawa.

  • The game was played on Tuesday, February 4, 2026.
  • Aliso Niguel last won the South Coast League title in 2020.

The players

Paige Balducci

The Aliso Niguel player who scored the game-winning penalty kick.

Addison Rudel

The Aliso Niguel goalkeeper who made five saves to preserve the 1-0 victory.

Sean Melendez

The first-year head coach of the Aliso Niguel girls soccer team, who has guided the Wolverines to the league title and a tournament championship this season.

Claire Hirakawa

The injured Aliso Niguel forward who was unable to play in the league title game.

San Clemente

The Aliso Niguel girls soccer team's opponent, who was ranked 5th in Orange County coming into the game.

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What they’re saying

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee (Instagram)

What’s next

The CIF-SS playoff pairings will be announced on Saturday, February 8th at 10 a.m.

The takeaway

Aliso Niguel's girls soccer team has made a remarkable turnaround this season under new coach Sean Melendez, winning the South Coast League title and a tournament championship. This victory over rival San Clemente shows the Wolverines' ability to compete with the top teams in Orange County and sets them up well for a deep playoff run.