Boys soccer: Soccer fever sweeping Estancia

Barry Faulkner

COSTA MESA - The Estancia High boys soccer bandwagon is filling up

fast; so fast, the school was attempting to create more seating when the

second-seeded Eagles (18-1-1) host third-seeded St. Francis (23-4-3) in

today’s CIF Southern Section Division IV semifinal at 3 p.m.

“(Principal) Tom Antal was saying something about us having to get more

bleachers out there,” said Estancia Coach Steve Crenshaw, after

spectators lined the home sideline from goal line to goal line for

Friday’s 7-0 quarterfinal trouncing of visiting Santa Ynez.

Estancia boys athletic director Tim Parsel said there will be at least

six bleachers set up for today’s match, double the normal total.

“It was pretty packed,” said Crenshaw, who expects an even bigger turnout

when his Pacific Coast League champions put their 15-game winning streak

on the line. It’s the Eagles’ first trip to the semifinals since winning

the section 2-A crown in 1985.

“There seems to be a lot of excitement at school about soccer. Teachers,

administrators, students and athletes from other sports have been talking

to our guys, telling them they’re excited about our success.”

St. Francis, the Mission League champion, is the latest threat to the

Estancia excitement, which has included outscoring teams 113-11,

including 20-2 in three playoff games.

The La Canada-based Golden Knights have outscored three playoff foes,

11-1. Coach Glen Appels’ squad defeated Gabrielino, 3-0 in the first

round, then knocked off Yucca Valley, 4-1, in the second round. They

defeated Santa Paula, 4-0, in Friday’s quarterfinal.

St. Francis, which won the section Division III crown in 1996, is paced

by forward Ryan Shaw, whose 22 goals this season match the school

single-season record he set last year.

Senior forward Phil Weinberg is also a consistent threat for today’s

visitors, who have received strong scoring punch lately from Daniel

Marco. Marco had two goals against Santa Paula and most of his eight

goals have come late in the campaign.

Shaw has signed with Loyola Marymount University, according to Crenshaw,

who said the Lions are also recruiting Estancia keeper Hilario Arriaga.

Arriaga has helped the Eagles record 13 shutouts, but most of his time is

spent observing a dominant Eagle offense, paced by senior forwards Esaul

Mendoza and Cesar Terrones.

Mendoza’s team-high 42 goals include back-to-back hat tricks, after a

two-goal output in the playoff opener.

Terrones, a second-team All-CIF performer as a junior and a four-year

standout, has 31 goals, including one in each of the last two wins.

Senior Irving Islas has three playoff goals, while Freddy Murillo (two),

Juan Zarate, Omar Navarrete, John Alderete, Jorge Lopez and Martin

Sanchez have also been part of the nine-player postseason scoring

brigade.

Estancia led only 1-0 at halftime against Santa Ynez, but exploded in the

second half to advance.

“I think we were a little anxious and it took a little while for us to

get settled down,” Crenshaw said. “Santa Ynez wasn’t a bad team and they

kept coming at us. But the bottom line is, we’re in such great condition,

our style of play wore them down. It’s happened over and over again this

season. My nerves are usually a mess until we get our fourth goal. Then,

I know what’s coming: the gang’s ready to start feeding.”

Crenshaw said his players will not be distracted by being one victory

away from a trip to Saturday’s championship match.

“Our guys aren’t giddy or anything,” Crenshaw said. “They’re realistic

and focused. We’re the only game in town at this point and we want to

give our fans a treat.”

Today’s winner will meet either top-seeded Bishop Montgomery (20-2-3) or

unseeded Valley Christian of Cerritos (23-2-2). The other semifinal is

scheduled tonight at 6 p.m. at Valley Christian, enabling Crenshaw,

should the Eagles win, an opportunity to get a firsthand look at

Saturday’s opponent.

The championship match will be held at either Cal State Fullerton or La

Mirada High, at a time to be determined.