Prep soccer: Mesa boys in showdown

Barry Faulkner

Two Newport-Mesa teams own at least a share of the Pacific Coast

League lead, while a trio of local teams aren’t far off the pace as boys

and girls soccer action continues this week in the PCL and the Sea View

League.

The Corona del Mar High girls (9-3-5, 2-0-2 in the PCL) are alone atop

the league after four games, despite playing to a pair of ties last week.

Coach Ron Evans’ two-time defending league champions, who have yet to

lose a PCL game in this their third season in the circuit and are ranked

No. 2 in CIF Southern Section Division IV, will be challenged this week

with road dates at Northwood (4-4-3, 2-1-1) and Laguna Beach (4-6-4,

1-2-1), Tuesday and Thursday, respectively. Northwood is tied for second

place with Costa Mesa and University.

The Costa Mesa boys (9-3-1, 3-0-1) share the PCL lead with Laguna

Beach heading into the two school’s 3:15 p.m. showdown Wednesday at Costa

Mesa.

A win would give Coach Eugene Day’s defending PCL champions a leg up

in pursuit of a second straight crown. The Mustangs earned 2-0 league

triumphs over crosstown rival Estancia (Wednesday) and CdM (Friday) to

keep pace with the Artists, who defeated Northwood, 2-0, Wednesday, then

topped Estancia, 5-4, Friday night.

Day said the Laguna Beach contest will feature contrasting styles.

“They like to use their speed to go through defenders,” Day said,

“while we like to touch (pass) and move the ball. If we’re playing our

game, we won’t give them the chance to mow us down. They are very

physical and we are more finesse. We can use our muscle, too, but I don’t

want that from our guys.”

The Mustangs have been keyed offensively by what Day calls the best

one-two scoring punch in the league. Senior Eli Solis (three goals last

week) is complemented up front by freshman Alfonso Pineda.

“Eli has been tremendous this year,” Day said of the first-team

All-PCL returner. “He has so much talent, sometimes he holds the ball too

much, because he thinks he can beat everybody.

“And Alfonso plays much older than a freshman.”

While Solis and Pineda handle most of the scoring, Day credits a

strong defense for holding opponents at bay.

Senior Steven Thomas, a second-team All-CIF Southern Section Division

IV and first-team All-PCL performer last year, anchors the back line at

sweeper.

Day said seniors Chasen Marshall and Spencer Solomon, as well as

junior Tyler Waldron and sophomore Benjamin Elias, round out five quality

players he rotates through four spots on the back line.

The Newport Harbor girls (9-6-2, 2-1-1) played their way into second

place last week with consecutive 2-0 wins over Laguna Hills (Tuesday) and

Woodbridge (Thursday). It was the first time in five seasons the Sailors,

ranked No. 6 in CIF Division II, had beaten the Warriors (7-6-1, 2-1-0),

ranked No. 3 in CIF Division II.

It also put Coach Jason Sorrell’s squad in position to, perhaps,

overtake league-leading Aliso Niguel (14-3, 3-0), when the Sailors host

the Wolverines Friday at 5 p.m.

Newport has a league bye Tuesday, when Aliso visits Woodbridge. A

Woodbridge victory would leave the Warriors and Wolverines one point

ahead of the Tars, heading into Thursday’s action. Woodbridge faces

Irvine (0-2-1 in league) Thursday.

The Newport Harbor boys, who topped Laguna Hills, 2-0, Wednesday, and

fell to league-leading Woodbridge, 1-0, Friday, could also help solidify

their hold on one of the league’s three guaranteed CIF playoff berths

with a win Friday over visiting Aliso Niguel. Coach Kevin Esparza’s Tars

(6-6-1, 2-2), who also have a league bye Wednesday, enter the week with

four points, one point behind Aliso (10-7-2, 2-0-1) and two behind

Woodbridge (17-1, 3-0).

The Costa Mesa girls team (9-4-2, 2-1-1) hosts Laguna Beach Tuesday

and University (7-6-1, 2-1-1) Thursday in an attempt to remain CdM’s

primary challenger.

The CdM boys (5-6-3, 2-1-1) enter the week in third place, two points

behind Laguna Beach and Costa Mesa. Coach Pat Callaghan’s Sea Kings visit

Northwood (1-1-2 in league) Wednesday, then continue on the road Friday

at Laguna Beach.

The Estancia boys and girls teams, both 0-4 in league, visit

University and host Northwood this week. The girls games are Tuesday and

Thursday and the boys games Wednesday and Friday.

Meanwhile, the Sage Hill boys (4-5-1, 2-2-1 in the Academy League)

continue their first varsity season with a league game Friday at Brethren

Christian.

The Sage Hill girls (5-4-1, 2-1-1) host St. Margaret’s Tuesday and

Brethren Christian Thursday.