Mesa topples CdM

Bryce Alderton

Finally.

That’s the feeling Costa Mesa High girls soccer coach Dan

Johnston, in his 11th season at Mesa, had following his team’s 2-1

triumph over Newport-Mesa District rival Corona del Mar on a warm

sunny morning on the Mustangs’ field.

Saturday’s victory marks the first time five Mustang seniors that

include Sharon Day, Devin Denman, Kristen Bagwell, Toshia Bryant, and

Nelly Barrios, who didn’t play Saturday, have beaten the Sea Kings.

The two teams used to play each other twice each season when they

both were a part of the Pacific Coast League. This season Costa Mesa

has moved to the Golden West League but the rivalry hasn’t lost much

of its importance.

In two games last season the teams battled to two ties.

“It’s been a long time coming,” Johnston said. “We always have

great games with (CdM) with few fouls. Everybody plays hard and there

are bodies flying everywhere. (CdM) is a really good team. I’m glad

our game was up to their level. This is the best preseason we’ve ever

had.”

Costa Mesa (8-1-2) and CdM (3-2-1) committed only 10 fouls and the referees didn’t issue any cards. The Mustangs had 10 shots while the

Sea Kings had eight. Mesa goalkeepers Kindra Bailey and Kaitlyn

Gentling combined for 11 saves and CdM sophomore Rachel Waters made

five stops.

The Sea Kings had four players out, allowing for only one

substitute.

Senior forward and three-time All-CIF performer Elisha Morgan sat

out her third consecutive game as a precautionary measure, said CdM

Coach Bryan Middleton. Morgan bruised her back in a collision with an

Ocean View player in a CdM win against the Seahawks Dec. 12.

Middleton expects Morgan, along with PCL Co-Most Valuable Player

last season Lauren Shepherdson (Day was the other Co-MVP) to be back

when the Sea Kings visit Back-Bay rival Newport Harbor Tuesday at 5

p.m. Shepherdson was snowed-in at Sun Valley, Idaho, following a

vacation, Middleton said.

“We definitely had our scoring chances at the end of the game,”

Middleton said. “The field conditions were not exactly ideal. Costa

Mesa plays a long ball with a quick counterattack and takes advantage

of the field. There’s a bouncing ball in the box and they put it

away.”

Mesa’s quick attack was responsible for the game-winning goal

scored by sophomore Jenny Sparks off an assist from sophomore Rachel

Ronquillo with 23 minutes elapsed in the first half.

Following a save by Bailey, Ronquillo took control around midfield

and booted the ball straight up field to Sparks. The speedy forward

kicked it to the left of Waters, who had come out six yards to try

and deter the shot.

“Ronquillo did a wonderful job,” Johnston said. “She put a move on

a defender and made a nice lead pass to Jenny. (Sparks) is efficient.

That is her trademark.”

CdM had tied the game eight minutes before Sparks’ goal on a

centering pass from senior Jenny Long in front of the Mesa goal.

Lauren Loe sent the ball in goal while in the middle of a crowd of

players for both teams.

Loe, senior All-CIF forward Alivia Muzura and Long led the Sea

King charge up front. Loe centered to Muzura for a header that went

wide left early in the second half. Muzura then blasted a ball from

18 yards out that Gentling caught with her hands.

Day, who scored Mesa’s first goal off a throw-in by freshman

sister Jasmin to go up 1-0 with nine minutes gone in the first half,

said the Mustangs played better in the first half.

“In the second half we were slower but we still did well in moving

the ball around,” Day said. “We just tried to get pumped up and don’t

let (CdM) take over our game. Our team is meshing together well.

Everyone is stepping up.”

Sophomore defender Nilani Duarte knocked several balls away from

CdM attackers and Denman, a senior first-team All-PCL selection last

season, along with junior Kara Jenkins, blocked incoming passes and

shots in the Mesa zone.

Freshman Taylor Fallon and junior Paige Janes anchored the CdM

defense. In the first half Janes blocked two shots (one with her

head) seconds apart on attempts by Sharon Day.

Sharon would be denied a second goal by Waters in the second half.

Waters slid feet-first to corral a ball between her legs in front of

the Mustang. Day and Waters collided on the play and the goalie,

favoring her knee, sat out for a few minutes before returning.

“Her knee is swollen and she’s hobbling around,” Middleton said.

“We had a good game on a hot day in the girls’ first game back (from

winter break).”

Randy Martinez, an assistant for the Cypress College women’s

soccer team that went to the state finals before losing to Long Beach

this season, scouted players from both teams Saturday.

He said he was going to look at Sharon Day and Denman from Mesa

and added that Saturday was the first time he has seen CdM play this

season.