Boys soccer: Mustangs have fun with Pacifica

Steve Virgen

COSTA MESA - This time around, there won’t be any reason for

postgame penalty kicks. That’s what Costa Mesa High Coach Eugene Day

wants out of his boys soccer team, which fulfilled that goal for at least

one game with a 3-0 CIF Southern Section Division IV first-round victory

over visiting Pacifica Friday.

The Mustangs (14-3-3), the two-time Pacific Coast League champions,

did not have to sweat out a close game. Not with seniors Mike Gardiner

and Eli Solis and freshman Alfonso Pineda scoring goals; and especially

not when Mesa outshot Pacifica, 19-4, including 15-3 in the second half

when the Mustangs scored two goals to put the game away.

“We outhustled them,” said Day, who was thoroughly impressed with

Pacifica goalkeeper Mike Gonzalez (12 saves). “I had to shake his hand.

He stopped at least five breakaways on us. Impressive.”

Costa Mesa advances to the second round Tuesday at 3 p.m. against

Notre Dame of Sherman Oaks, a 3-0 winner over Cathedral, at a site to be

determined.

Last year, Costa Mesa was eliminated in the playoffs after Bishop

Montgomery won, 4-2, on penalty kicks in the second round.

Day was also pleased with the Mustangs’ desire to win and their

ability to have fun in the process. After they earned their 1-0 lead,

Mesa was able to have fun. The Mustangs, who possess a 16-game unbeaten streak, got that lead with less than a minute left in the first half.

After Pineda earned a corner kick, senior Billy Lund booted the ball

and Solis touched a pass to Gardiner, whose header sailed over

Gonzalez’s hands.

“We were pumped big-time,” Solis said. “We were having fun. That’s

what it’s all about: having fun.”

Solis exemplified this in the 67th minute when he scored on a direct

free kick from the corner, about 15 yards from the goal. Gardiner set up

the kick by drawing the foul and Solis left the Mariners (10-5-6) in a

daze with a shot that ricocheted off the right post and hugged the back

of the net for a 3-0 lead.

“That was tremendous,” Day said of Solis’ goal. “It was classic.”

Mesa attacked with vigor in the second half, which featured the debut

of senior Dorien Vanegas, a junior varsity call-up who created multiple

scoring threats. Vanegas dribbled through the Mariners’ defense and fired

off a shot in the 48th minute, but Gonzalez slapped it away. Pineda

swooped in for the rebound and struck it quickly into the open net for a

2-0 lead.

Aside from Mesa’s offense, which included shots on goal by Irwin

Salas, Luis Villanueva and Kevin Alexander, the Mustangs’ defense

completed a solid performance, anchored by senior goalkeeper Bryce

Sheridan (four saves).

Senior sweeper Steven Thomas, along with support from junior Tyler

Waldron and Chasen Marshall, frustrated Pacifica and allowed just one

first-half shot on goal in the shutout.

“We were coming in with high confidence,” Thomas said of the Mustangs’

pregame approach. “We have a lot of confidence. We have the offense. We

can score. We have the defense. We’ve got it all. We are ready. We showed

it today.”