Mesa’s passing too much

Steve Virgen

While most of their scoring plays were made for a highlight reel,

the Costa Mesa High Mustangs also gave a clear example of passing for

young fans watching the girls soccer game of crosstown rivals

Thursday. The Mustangs (11-1-2, 5-0-0 in the Golden West League) kept

the Estancia Eagles (2-6-4, 1-3-1) guessing as Mesa softened up its

rivals’ defense with sound passing, leading to a 10-1 win at the Farm

Complex.

It also didn’t hurt that the Mustangs possess a great amount of

speed, another reason they are undefeated in league play and are

playing a championship brand of soccer.

“When we’re playing at the top of our game, it is very fun to

watch,” Mesa Coach Dan Johnston said. “We had some very nice shots,

and we were really spreading it around. Time and time again, we had

five or six passes before each goal.”

Though Estancia seemingly played on its heels, Johnston noticed

the Eagles did not lack effort. It was that effort which prevented

Estancia from being shut out. However, most of the damage was done in

the first half, when Costa Mesa built a 6-0 lead in the first 36

minutes.

Senior Sharon Day and sophomores Jenny Sparks and Vera Gale scored

two goals each. Costa Mesa’s lone freshman, Jasmin Day, also put in

two goals, while sophomore Nilani Duarte and junior Kara Jenkins

added one goal each. Sparks also had three assists and Sharon Day

delivered two, while seniors Devin Denman and Toshia Bryant

contributed one each.

Sparks started the scoring for the Mustangs, finding the back of

the net on an unassisted goal just two minutes into the game. Costa

Mesa later went up, 3-0, when Sparks and Sharon Day nearly teamed up

for goal, but Day’s shot was slapped by the Estancia goalie. However,

Gale was there for the rebound and quickly kicked the ball into the

net.

Then, four minutes later, Gale scored on a header, finishing a

long cross from Sparks, which gave the Mustangs a 4-0 lead. Three

minutes after that, the Day sisters teamed up to score a goal. Sharon

Day assisted on her younger sister’s goal. Jasmin Day, also known as

Jazzy, scored again seven minutes later after settling a loose ball

and then striking from about 10 feet away from the goal. Costa Mesa

virtually ended the game, going up, 6-0, just before halftime.

However, the Eagles made some adjustments in the second half and

were able to earn a goal with 12 minutes left. Estancia sophomore

Sandra Lopez scored after finishing off an assist from sophomore

Elise Carroll. But the Eagles still trailed, 9-1, because Sharon Day

scored twice and Sparks added another before Estancia got on the

scoreboard.

Costa Mesa closed out the scoring with a goal from Jenkins after

Sparks produced her third assist.

“They’re a really good team,” Estancia Coach Nadine Rajabi said of

the Mustangs. “We did our best.”

Johnston concurred.

“You have to give Estancia credit,” Johnston said. “They were

giving it their all the whole time.”

Estancia goalies, sophomore Paula Arona and juniors Stephanie

Velez and Arwyn Knott combined for 13 saves.