Past pays off for Estancia

COSTA MESA — In November, Gannon Burks talked to his team about games like Wednesday’s.

The Estancia High boys’ soccer team had a rigorous schedule in front of it, filled with Division I opponents and high-profile tournaments, but Burks told the Eagles it was all necessary, even the lumps they would receive on the way.

It was for Orange Coast League games like Wednesday, which Estancia controlled throughout, defeating Calvary Chapel, 2-0, at Orange Coast College.

Estancia is now 4-0 in league and has outscored those opponents 11-2. Half of the Estancia’s 12 preseason opponents reside in a higher division than the Division III Estancia is in.

“My concept was that if we played Division I teams our league would be easier,” Burks said.

After emerging from the pre-league gauntlet, Burks said sophomore Rony Argueta told him how he was impressed that the midfielders and forwards on Division I teams would always help on defense.

“Now we always have eight guys in the box,” Burks said. “If our midfielders and forwards don’t get back to help, our defense suffers.”

Estancia posted its second consecutive shutout Wednesday. Burks said seniors Eduardo Castillo and Alex Salguero played important roles in Calvary Chapel barely getting a sniff of the goal.

“They’re our elder statesman,” Burks said. “[Castillo] ran the ball real well and distributed well. [Salguero] has always been solid on the right side. With them graduating I’m a little scared for next year.”

Right now, Estancia is playing well on both offense and defense. Sophomore Chuy Garcia picked up his first goal on varsity to give the Eagles a 1-0 lead in the 21st minute.

Senior Denny Perdomo, with the outside of his foot, flicked a pass between two defenders to a cutting Garcia who blasted the ball into the far corner of the goal.

“I saw the through ball and I knew I had to put it away,” Garcia said. “I was happy. I just hope it’s not my last one.”

Burks said Garcia has come close to scoring his first goal before, hitting the post 11 times this season.

“It’s all just part of the hard work,” Garcia said.

In the same game Garcia notched his first, senior Edgar Rodriguez raised his team-high total in goals to eight.

Four minutes into the second half, Rodriguez headed in a free kick from his cousin, junior Eric Duarte. The pass was placed well and Rodriguez was expecting it, having yelled to Duarte to send it his way.

But Rodriguez wasn’t worried any Calvary Chapel players would know where it was going because he said it in Spanish.

“I saw that coming and I just went in front of the defender,” Rodriguez said. “I just tilted my head a little.”

Rodriguez said that the team’s torrid start in Orange Coast League play has a lot to do with taking on Division I opponents before league competition began.

“[Burks] told us it was to get ready for league,” Rodriguez said. “He told us that if we compete against high-level teams in the [pre-league season], in the league, the competition will be a little lower.”

Estancia, which has not lost in nearly a month, will play host to Laguna Beach Thursday at 3 p.m. Estancia defeated the Breakers, 4-1, Jan. 17.