Boys soccer: Mustangs top CdM

Steve Virgen

COSTA MESA - Shot after shot, the Costa Mesa High boys soccer team

launched kicks that only seemed to inspire Corona del Mar.

The Mustangs outshot the visiting Sea Kings, 35-6, but CdM would not

back down from the Pacific Coast League’s second-place team.

However, the Sea Kings (2-11, 0-5-0 in league), in another near-upset,

were left searching for their first PCL win after the Mustangs (9-4-1,

3-1-0) found the net on their 27th shot for a 1-0 win Wednesday.

Despite suffering an injury, Sea King junior goalie Geoff Collier

finished with 20 saves.

“I thought our team played as well as (Mesa),” CdM Coach Pat Callaghan

said. “They had more chances in front of the goal. We did a good job

defensively. We just got a little unlucky on (the goal scored). We had a

lot of emotion.”

In the 63rd minute, Mesa junior Ryan Denman scored. After a CdM hand

violation, he converted Jonathan Contreras arcing direct free kick.

CdM nearly defeated Estancia Jan. 17, but the Eagles collected two

goals in the final 11 minutes for a 3-1 win.

Against Mesa, the Sea Kings displayed a solid defense and the Mustangs

played into their hands with off-target shots, extra passes and excessive

dribbling.

“There was too much dribbling,” Mesa Coach Eugene Day said. “Either

take the shot or pass it on. They know better. Put it in.”

Day also said the Mustangs’ lack of offensive aggressiveness gave CdM

confidence. And in turn, the Sea Kings controlled the final five minutes.

The game ended with CdM threatening as Jon-Luke Del Fante and Julien

Cerutti attacked Mesa’s defense.

“Through periods of the game we can play with anyone,” Callaghan said.

“We just haven’t been able to sustain that effort.”

Collier went down with a rib injury early in the second half as Mesa

almost scored. Denman fired in a goal, but it was nullified because the

Mustangs were called for two fouls at the same time. One foul was for a

collision into Collier, who was sidelined briefly.

Mesa now turns its focus to Friday, when the Mustangs host Estancia at

3:15.