Girls soccer: Mesa shuts out Laguna Hills, 1-0

Richard Dunn

LAGUNA HILLS - As former longtime Pacific Coast League rivals,

Costa Mesa High knows all about the unique style of Laguna Hills.

That’s why Costa Mesa girls soccer coach Dan Johnston scheduled the

Hawks for a nonleague game Monday.

“They’re a great test,” Johnston said of the Hawks, who play in the

Sea View League now. “They do a lot of interesting things.”

Providing the most interest, however, were the visiting Mustangs as

they shut out the Hawks, 1-0.

It was the third shutout of the season for Costa Mesa (3-2) behind

junior goalie Chelsea Soria, whose 12 saves kept the Laguna Hills offense

empty.

“Chelsea did a great job,” Johnston said. “She did everything she had

to do. She’s not afraid of coming out (of the net).”

The Mustangs scored the game’s only goal in the 22nd minute, when

sophomore standout Sharon Day unleashed a rocket into the lower right

corner of the net, a one-hopper that went past Laguna Hills senior goalie

Jamie Lautenschleger (five saves). Mesa senior sensation Fernanda Velasco

assisted on the goal.

While Soria was blocking everything coming her way, the Costa Mesa

defense stood firm, managing to dodge several Laguna Hills bullets. The

Mustangs successfully defended against six corner kicks.

“Laguna Hills is usually pretty good at corners,” Johnston said. “In

the last three years, I think every goal (the Hawks) have scored against

us have come on corner kicks.”

Furthermore, it was Mesa’s first victory against Laguna Hills since

the 1994-95 season, when Costa Mesa had Jessica Schroeder, Johnston said.

“We’ve had some ties against (the Hawks) in the past few years, but

this is our first win against them in a long time,” Johnston said.

Sarah Smallcomb and Katie Roche were defensive catalysts for Mesa in

this one, while Velasco, Devin Denman, Jamie Schroeder and Lisa Dunn

controlled the ball well in the midfield.

In the second half, Laguna Hills outshot Costa Mesa, 14-1, but the

Mustangs’ defense was up to the challenge.

After Soria’s ninth save in the 60th minute, Laguna Hills’ Courtney

Denham missed a rebound shot wide right, one of many close misses for the

hosts.

The Hawks’ Jessica Block tried a header in the 76th minute off a

corner kick, but Soria stopped it with her 11th save.

In the 80th minute, and about 10 seconds before the referee blew the

final whistle in near-darkness, Soria knocked away an up-close shot by

Laguna Hills’ Alyssa Smith with both hands, then calmly bounced on the

turf like it was nothing.

Nichelle Janti, Faride Loera, Natalie Masciale, Mae Powers and Tiffany

Grondahl also contributed to the Mesa win.

In the first half, Smallcomb broke up a breakaway and deflected a shot

attempt from the field.

In the 20th minute, Soria made an easy save on a lob shot by Block

from 15 yards out.

Then Day tallied her ninth goal of the campaign two minutes later on

the other end.

Mesa will face Laguna Hills again Saturday in the first round of the

Ocean View Tournament at Golden West College (8 a.m.).

“It’s just the luck of the draw that we got them in the tournament,”

Johnston said.