Boys soccer: Mustangs wake up

Steve Virgen

COSTA MESA - Alfonso Pineda is a freshman, but it sure hasn’t taken

him long to realize the emotion demanded in a boys soccer game against

crosstown rival Estancia.

After scoring his second goal, which delivered the 3-1 knockout over

Pacific Coast League visitor Estancia Friday, Pineda displayed the male

version of Brandy Chastain and stripped off his shirt in celebration.

Costa Mesa Coach Eugene Day quickly reprimanded Pineda with a seat on

the bench, but the damage had already been done: The Mustangs (12-3-2,

6-0-2 in the PCL) swept the season series over their rivals with two

goals in the final three minutes.

“We had to prove that we were the better team,” said Pineda, who

scored the game’s first goal in the 46th minute. “We are the defending

PCL champs, so we had to prove that we can play like that.”

Mesa’s 2002 Eagle sweep is the school’s first in at least the past

seven years.

“I don’t think (a sweep) has ever happened,” Estancia Coach Steve

Crenshaw said.

Pineda’s first goal came off a pinpoint cross from the corner by

senior Mike Gardiner. Estancia (5-12, 2-6) answered with 12 minutes left, when junior Nikolai Doudtchenko settled a pass from senior Sergio

Madrigal and blasted a shot into the back of the net from about 25 feet

out for the 1-1 tie.

However, Costa Mesa’s seniors pulled out the victory in the end. With

three minutes left, a shot by Gardiner produced a corner kick. Mustangs

senior Irwin Salas booted the corner kick, which grazed off senior

Ricardo Luna’s foot, then bounced to senior Eli Solis, who pushed it into

the goal with his stomach.

“Hey, whatever it takes,” Solis said of the goal. “This was the best

game of the season because we, as a team, and the Class of 2002, have

never swept them. So this is great.”

Estancia senior goalie Giovanni Gonzalez came up with a big save in

the scoreless first half. He stopped Solis’ penalty kick in the seventh

minute.

Day said Doudtchenko’s goal woke up the Mustangs and he was proud of

how his team responded.

The Mustangs’ victory puts them three points ahead of Northwood and at

least three points in front of Laguna Beach, which lost to Northwood,

4-0, Friday.

The Mustangs can clinch their second straight league crown with a tie

or win over visiting Corona del Mar Monday at 3:15 p.m.