Mustangs handle big test

Passing game is key as Costa Mesa moves to 4-0 in Golden West League with victory over Saddleback.COSTA MESA -- The passing game of the Costa Mesa High girls’ soccer team is starting to come around, which is no easy feat on the beat-up field on which it plays.

The Mustangs overcame early pressure from Saddleback and controlled the ball for most of the contest. Their work was rewarded with a pair of second-half goals in a 2-0 Golden West League victory over the Roadrunners on Thursday.

Costa Mesa (8-3-2, 4-0 in league) took 21 shots on goal -- many coming off crosses from senior forward Kyla Flores. But the Mustangs could not find the back of the net until early in the second half -- on their fifth corner kick of the game -- when sophomore Sam Strodel scored on a header off Flores’ cross. It marked Strodel’s first goal of the season.

The Mustangs, who did not allow a shot on goal in the second half, added an insurance goal when Jasmin Day took a pass from Flores and dished it off to Alaina Abalos, who scored after making a run down the left side of the 18-yard box.

The lead was insurmountable because Costa Mesa was winning loose balls and keeping possession for long periods of time throughout the second half.

“We knew they would be a tough defensive team, they always have been -- they always go hard for the ball,” Costa Mesa Coach Dan Johnston said. “But we started winning 50-50 balls in the second half, and that made a big difference in the game.”

Saddleback, which had just four shots -- all in the first half, nearly struck first. In the early minutes of the game, Marysol Beltran snuck behind the Costa Mesa defense with the ball, but couldn’t get a shot off before Mustangs defenders caught up to her.

Soon after, Beltran had a shot in the box that was blocked by Costa Mesa goalkeeper Katie Finn. Erika Ulloa picked up the rebound, but Finn deflected her shot out of bounds.

Costa Mesa defender Mikyla Lux cleared the ensuing corner kick, but the Mustangs were not out of the woods yet. Beltran got behind the Costa Mesa defense again, but her shot from the top of the box was saved by Finn.

The Mustangs started dominating in the last 30 minutes of the first half and never let down after that.

“As soon as you give them space, they take advantage of it,” Saddleback Coach Alex Rico said. “A team that good will eventually take advantage.”

Flores created scoring opportunities for Costa Mesa from the opening whistle of the second half. She hustled to a loose ball in the Saddleback box and collided with goalkeeper Ruby Lopez. Soon after, she took a pass from Day and scooted into the box, but her shot was deflected out for a corner kick that led to Costa Mesa’s first goal.

The Mustangs took six corner kicks to Saddleback’s two.

“We got into our game in the second half,” Johnston said. “When we get to the 50-50 balls, our passing game takes care of the rest. Our passing game is not quite where we were last year, but it’s close.”

Saddleback (3-1 in league) played without one of its best players -- midfielder Jessica Godinez, who received a red card in her last game -- so it might be tougher for Costa Mesa when the teams meet again at Saddleback on Jan. 31.

Costa Mesa hosts Ocean View on Jan. 10 in its next contest.

Golden West League

Costa Mesa 2, Saddleback 0

Score by Quarters