Boys soccer: Road Warriors
Steve Virgen
CORONA DEL MAR - What a week it has been for the Costa Mesa High
boys soccer team, which defeated host Corona del Mar, 2-0, in a Pacific
Coast League matchup of Newport-Mesa District rivals Friday.
What a week, indeed.
The Mustangs (9-3-1, 3-0-1 in the PCL), who also defeated crosstown
rival Estancia, 2-0, Wednesday, turned in an electric performance in the
second half which resulted in two goals, the Sea Kings’ first loss of the
season, and a share of the PCL lead with Laguna Beach.
CdM (5-6-3, 2-1-1) played without junior Tristan Harris, who suffered
a concussion in a 2-0 win over University Wednesday, and senior
goalkeeper Geoff Collier and senior forward Aldo Bautista, both of whom
received red cards against the Trojans. Meanwhile, the Mustangs were
without senior goalkeeper Bryce Sheridan, who injured his leg in the win
at Estancia. Mesa junior goalkeeper Ivan Figueroa, a junior varsity
call-up, recorded eight saves to help post the shutout.
“I’ve been saying it all season long,” Mesa Coach Eugene Day said. “We
have a better team this year because (the Mustangs) are passing and
playing together more. We have guys who are passing the ball and moving
the ball more.”
Costa Mesa, last year’s PCL champion, displayed its rhythmic passing
game after Day delivered an inspirational halftime speech.
Day told his players they should not worry who their opponent is, or
where they are playing.
“I don’t care who it is,” he told the Mustangs. “We play our game.”
And with that Costa Mesa played its brand of soccer highlighted by
scoring from seniors Irwin Salas and Eli Solis.
Salas struck a shot into the back of a net after freshman Alfonso
Pineda made a slight touch on a great pass from senior Ricardo Luna in
the 65th minute.
The Mustangs continued to attack after their 1-0 edge and in the 74th
minute Solis punched in his team’s insurance goal.
Solis, who scored two goals in the win over Estancia, booted in a goal
on a free kick from about 25 yards out. He pointed one finger to the sky
as his teammates hugged him.
“If we get our rhythm in the first minute (of the game or the second
half), I think we’re unstoppable,” Day said. “CdM played pretty good.
They kept us at bay. We played with them, their style, instead of our
style, and that’s why they gave us a good scare. They are a pretty good
team, and they’re young too.”
The young Sea Kings, who finished 0-9-1 in the PCL last year, nearly
scored twice before Solis’ goal. After sophomore Danny Whitaker’s shot
created a corner kick, sophomore Jeritt Thayer fired from the corner and
senior Andy Almquist headed the ball toward Costa Mesa’s net. But,
Figueroa stepped up with the save, in the 69th minute. Two minutes later,
CdM junior Blake Dillion’s shot produced a corner kick and Thayer, again
blasted the ball from the corner. This time, Whitaker headed the ball
that sailed inches above the crossbar.
“Overall, it just wasn’t our day,” CdM Coach Pat Callaghan said. “Our
guys played hard and real well in the first half. We just didn’t finish
our chances. We played just as well in the second half. We learned a
lesson. We didn’t have our full complement of players. And that’s
important for us to have our full team here. I’m not placing any blame,
but to be without three players, that hurt our team. I’m looking forward
to playing (Costa Mesa) again. They are a good team, but we didn’t play
our best game.”
Almquist, CdM’s sweeper, led the defense that kept the Mustangs
scoreless in the first half, while junior goalkeeper Phil Stemler
finished with nine saves. Costa Mesa senior sweeper Steven Thomas
contributed solid defensive play in the shutout, as did Salas, Spencer
Solomon and Chasen Marshall.
The Mustangs and Sea Kings return to action Wednesday at 3:15 p.m.,
hosting Laguna Beach to end the first round of PCL play. The Sea Kings
will play at Northwood.
“We have great momentum,” Day said. “We need to take care of business
Wednesday. If we can play like we did in the second half, we’ll be all
right.”
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