Eagles forfeit two matches

Steve Virgen

In what Estancia High boys athletic director Tim Parsel described as

“an embarrassment,” five players and Coach Steve Crenshaw of the

Eagles’ boys soccer team were issued red cards in a game against

Ocean View Jan. 27.

The aftershocks of Estancia’s situation are still felt as three of

the players, all starters, were handed two-game suspensions for their

actions in the game, which was called early in the second half by the

referee, causing Estancia to forfeit.

Crenshaw and the other two players served one-game suspensions for

their red cards and sat out when Estancia lost, 2-1, to Saddleback on

Tuesday. Any player or coach given a red card is automatically

suspended for one game, according to CIF Southern Section bylaws.

Parsel added another one-game suspension for three players.

The Eagles also forfeited their game against Westminster Jan. 29

as a result of the red cards.

Three of Estancia’s starters will be suspended from today’s home

match against Santa Ana at 3:15 p.m.

“We had an incident with [an Estancia] spectator a couple of weeks

ago, so this is a second [officials’] report [for us],” Parsel said.

“It’s kind of an embarrassment to the school when a second report

comes in. Even if the official did make a mistake we’re at the point

where we have to handle what it looks like from the sideline. It’s

just something we can’t have. You have to accept the authority no

matter what. You can’t vent your frustration in the middle of the

game. It’s kind of a selfish reaction. You feel better, but your team

suffers.”

Crenshaw said he did not know he had been assessed a red card

during the Ocean View game. He found out two days after the fact. “I

don’t know if it’s something you can get over,” Crenshaw said. “It

kind of ruined [our] season. We were starting to play very good

soccer and looking like we might be able to do something. It was

unfortunate something like this happened. You hope this becomes a

learning experience. You try to tell them to walk away.”

Crenshaw said Estancia had been dominating against Ocean View and

led, 1-0, throughout the first half. But the Seahawks scored early in

the second half and an Estancia player reacted with a snide comment

directed at Ocean View players.

“It wasn’t that severe and a good referee would have ignored it,”

Crenshaw said. “But he took exception to it and [arguments between

players and the referee] broke loose.”