Mesa shocked

Chris Yemma

Perhaps the only people that thought it was possible were standing on

the visiting sideline.

Not once did the visiting Arroyo Grande High girls soccer team not

believe. Through 111 minutes of play, through two halves of

regulation, three overtimes and change, through 34 shots taken on it

to four taken itself, it displayed the true definition of

perseverance.

It could have also been labeled persistence, but regardless, it

never gave up.

And in the first minute of the second sudden-death overtime

period, in the quarterfinals of the CIF Southern Section Division III

playoffs, it completely stunned third-seeded Costa Mesa.

The Mustangs, who have never lost in the Golden West League, who

shared a CIF title two years ago, and were a top contender to compete

for another CIF title this year, were knocked out of the playoffs,

1-0, in a fourth overtime by the visiting Eagles Thursday at Orange

Coast College.

“To give it up, with just [nine] minutes left -- that is so

frustrating,” Costa Mesa Coach Dan Johnston vented. “[In penalty

kicks] we would have won it.”

Mesa’s quest for a second CIF title in three years was halted

considerably earlier in the postseason than it had hoped, or

expected, for that matter.

Arroyo Grande (12-6-5) played a game of chess on the Mustangs

(19-2), bringing them to uncharted territory (overtime) and then

check-mating them. Costa Mesa had never tied a game all season, and

didn’t play any overtime in the postseason until Thursday.

The Eagles’ defensive strategy prevailed, and in the 111th minute,

on the visitors’ lone offensive breakaway of the game, senior Erica

Thomas streaked down the field and chipped it over goalie Kindra

Bailey’s head, sending Arroyo’s sideline into pandemonium and Mesa’s

into dead silence.