Mesa magic
Bryce Alderton
In a magical season, Costa Mesa High’s girls soccer team finds itself
on a magic carpet ride that will continue into Saturday.
The Mustangs (22-1-2), a team that just last season won its first,
and only, playoff game, are now just one win away from ultimate
glory, a CIF Southern Section championship, after they defeated
visiting Bonita, 2-1, Tuesday in a Division III semifinal.
The Mustangs will play No. 4-seeded Walnut (19-4-4) on Saturday.
Walnut defeated Orange Lutheran Tuesday, 2-1. The title game will
be at either Cal State Fullerton or La Mirada High, at a time to be
determined.
“It’s what Mesa has been waiting for for a long time,” Mesa
sopohomore standout Jenny Sparks said. “We never wanted something so
much.”
“It’s the greatest feeling in the world,” said junior defender
Stacy Krikorian. “I’m overwhelmed with happiness.”
Mesa, the second seed, persevered through the jitters that come
with a game of this magnitude, and outscored the No. 3-seeded
Bearcats (19-3-4) in the final two quarters after a scoreless first
half.
Bonita, the Miramonte League champion, had allowed just one goal
during the playoffs coming into Tuesday’s game, as had Mesa. But the
hosts managed to get two balls by sophomore goalkeeper Brittany
Massro, who made 10 well-earned saves, often sliding to scoop up
wayward passes or shots.
Mesa freshman Jasmin Day, recovering from a sprained ankle that
caused her to miss the second-round triumph over Santa Monica, was in
the right place at the right time for the game’s first goal.
In the 56th minute, Massro kicked the ball out, but it hit off of
Bonita defender Brooke Sens, and Day was right there to take control
and roll the shot off the left post and into the net.
“I wasn’t expecting it, but if it came, I was waiting,” said Day
about the rebound that went to her.
Sister Sharon, the reigning CIF State high jump champion and team
leader in goals, picked up her 83rd career score 11 minutes later on
a penalty kick she sent flying into the right side of the net to make
it, 2-0.
Mesa sophomore Vera Gale tracked down a bouncing ball and dribbled
about five yards before Bonita defenders Kristi Dow and Nicole Mosher
ran into her, sending Gale to the turf.
Bonita Coach Bob Phillippe didn’t think Gale was attempting to
shoot.
“It was a tough call that was unlucky for us and good for them,”
Phillippe said. “I feel we were the better team today, but the score
doesn’t show it. We didn’t play the plays we should have and made
some defensive mistakes.”
Bonita had five corners to Mesa’s one in the first half and had
its best scoring chance in the 39th minute.
Mesa senior defender Devin Denman, who along with Krikorian,
knocked several balls upfield to stifle Bearcat attacks, headed a
ball off a 25-yard free kick that bounced to senior sweeper and
captain Katie Prather. Mesa sophomore goalkeeper Kindra Bailey batted
the shot that rebounded to Kellie McGrath -- Bonita’s leading scorer
and a second-team All-CIF pick a year ago -- whose shot hit the top
of the crossbar and went over the net. McGrath couldn’t take
advantage of Bailey being out of position.
“They outplayed us in the first half, they are a great team that
works together,” said Mesa coach Dan Johnston, in his 11th year at
Mesa. “We were nervous. In the second half, we got our passing game
going and had a lot of good scoring opportunities.”
Mesa outshot the Bearcats, 8-6, in the second half, getting crisp
passes upfield from the defense and midfielders that included Denman,
Kara Jenkins, Rachel Hughes, Sara Bryant, Valerie Gomez and Nilani
Duarte. Sparks, who has scored 27 goals with 14 assists this season,
along with the Day sisters, were the recipients of many of those
passes, as were Gale, Rachel Ronquillo, Kristen Bagwell and Toshia
Bryant.
“It’s awesome,” said Sparks when asked about playing alongside the
Day tandem. “You always know where to be for the pass. It’s fun
working with them.”
Bonita junior defender Randie Massro kept in a ball off a goal
kick by Bailey, and passed toward the sideline, where McGrath took
the ball in stride. McGrath centered to freshman forward Kellyanne
Kirby for a goal in the 74th minute.
Randie Massro dribbled around a defender in the corner and booted
a ball from nine yards out that also flew over the goal just minutes
into the second half.
“After that we had a letdown,” said Phillippe of Randie Massro’s
shot.
There was no letdown on the Mesa side en route to a 15th straight
victory and 22nd straight without a loss. Junior goalkeeper Kindra
Bailey made seven saves.
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