Mustangs host Centennial

Barry Faulkner

The most successful Costa Mesa High girls soccer season in history

rolls on today when the Mustangs host Centennial of Corona in a CIF

Southern Section Division III quarterfinal at 3 p.m.

No. 2-seeded Costa Mesa (20-1-2) has won 14 straight and comes in

with a 20-game unbeaten streak, including a pair of convincing

playoff wins. After trouncing John Glenn, 8-0, in Friday’s first

round, the Golden West League champions handled Santa Monica, 3-0, in

the second round Tuesday. The Mustangs, who posted the program’s

first postseason win last season, one year after making their playoff

debut, have outscored opponents this season, 109-13.

Centennial (13-7-2), the third-place team from the Mountain View

League, has never gone beyond the CIF quarterfinals. Junior forward

Randi Leyva scored in the 78th minute to break a scoreless tie, only

to see Yucaipa score one minute later to force overtime. Leyva, who

has three playoff goals, put the Huskies in front in the first

overtime and Cathleen Rodriguez converted a penalty kick for an

insurance goal.

Mesa’s prolific offense has been led by senior Sharon Day and

sophomore Jenny Sparks. Day, a four-year standout, has five playoff

goals to up her season total to 29. She also has two assists, giving

her 35 for the year. For her career, Day, the reigning state high

jump champion, has 83 goals and 72 assists.

Sparks, who scored twice against Santa Monica, collected two

assists in the first-round win. She has 27 goals and 13 assists this

season.

Mesa’s defense is led by senior sweeper Devin Denman, juniors

Stacy Krikorian and Valerie Gomez, as well as the combined goalie

tandem of Kindra Bailey and Kaitlyn Gentling.

Today’s winner will meet either No. 3-seeded Bonita (18-2-4) or La

Mirada (20-3-1) in a semifinal Tuesday.