Into the great wide open

Joseph Boo

COSTA MESA - Moby released an album of music for films titled o7 I

Like to Score. f7 Estancia High’s boys soccer team might as well use

that as its mantra.

“We have at least 10 bodies capable of scoring,” Estancia Coach Steve

Crenshaw said. “There’s not really a player on our team not capable of

scoring. We’ll play a real offensive style of game.”

If any soccer team had Estancia’s firepower, then it should be thinking

downright offensive thoughts. In its scrimmage and its season opener,

Estancia outscored two quality opponents, Mater Dei and Aliso Niguel,

11-0.

The Eagles lost only one starter to graduation from last year’s 16-7-5

team. More importantly, every major weapon from that team returns.

The most well-known of Estancia’s goal scorers is senior Cesar Torrones,

a second-team All-CIF performer last season who has led the Eagles in

scoring the last two years.

While Torrones, a four-year starter, is a known scoring threat, senior

midfielder Esaul Mendoza, second-team All-Pacific Coast League as a

junior, exemplifies the Eagles’ more offensive approach, scoring five

goals against Aliso Niguel.

“He’s going to be playing more of a forward-midfield spot instead of

playing back,” Crenshaw said.

“Esaul is a very, very talented player. Physically, he’s not very big.

But pound for pound, he’s one of the best players around.”

Running Estancia’s offense will be senior midfielder Irving Islas,

third-team All-CIF last season. While he is the team’s field general,

according to Crenshaw, Islas will also keep defenses honest with a

powerful shot.

The other weapons on Estancia’s offense are seniors Edson Anaya, Martin

Sanchez, Chuck Thompson, Sergio Sandoval, and juniors Armando Ortiz and

Juan Zarate.

While Estancia’s offense might impress its fans, it will be the defense

that ultimately wins games. And Estancia’s defense has played well so

far, turning in two shutouts.

The cornerstones of the defense are seniors Fernando Medina and John

Alderete. Medina was second-team all-league last season, helping the

Eagles advance to the CIF playoffs for the sixth straight time.

“Medina has played extremely well for us,” Crenshaw said. “He’s a real

stingy defender.”

Alderete is the cleanup man from the sweeper spot and has came up huge

for the team, according to Crenshaw.

Senior Omar Navarrete should also help on defense, along with Luis

Rivera, Jose Sanchez and Freddy Murillo.

Finally, senior goalie Hilario Arriaga holds the team together. He is

adept at directing traffic and setting up Estancia’s attacks.

With so many weapons, Estancia is looking to remedy last year’s showing,

a third-place in the Pacific Coast League and a loss in the first round

of the CIF Southern Section playoffs to Servite.

“We lost in the first round to a team we shouldn’t have lost to,”

Crenshaw said. “Our guys now realize the rings are there, now we have to

step up and grab it.”

With an altered PCL that sent Laguna Hills and Aliso Niguel to the Sea

View League and inherited former CdM from the same league, and with

Laguna Beach and Costa Mesa reloading, the Eagles might find a league

title slightly more attainable. University, however, will provide a

challenge. And Crenshaw firmly believes his team can go much further.

“Our goal is to make it all the way,” he said, “and to play the best

soccer we can. I think we can do whatever we want to do.”

Roster

G Hilario Arriaga Sr.

SW John Alderete Sr.

D Fernando Medina Sr.

D Omar Navarrete Sr.

D Luis Rivera Sr.

D Jose Sanchez Sr.

D Freddy Murillo Jr.

MF Irving Islas Sr.

MF Esaul Mendoza Sr.

MF Edson Anaya Sr.

MF Jorge Lopez Sr.

MF Martin Sanchez Sr.

MF Chuck Thompson Sr.

MF Armando Ortiz Jr.

F Cesar Torrones Sr.

F Sergio Sandoval Sr.

F Juan Zarate Jr.