DAILY PILOT HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETE OF THE WEEK:

On game days, Jennifer Thomas and some of her teammates on the Estancia High girls’ soccer team get together for lunch.

The Eagles go over Stacy McDaniels’ house, where they eat sandwiches, Rice Krispies treats and cookies, and talk soccer.

On the cookies, Thomas said it reads “beat whoever” Estancia is playing that day. On Thursday, it was Costa Mesa and Thomas was still hungry after lunch. She wasn’t satisfied with last week’s win, a first for Estancia against its rival in a league contest in 13 years.

Thomas scored two goals in the 3-1 Orange Coast League victory. But the striker realized the challenge ahead. Beating the Mustangs again wouldn’t be easy.

Winner gets sole possession of first place. With three starters out, two due to injuries, and another on her way to Mammoth, it caused a snowball effect before the match even started.

Coach Steve Crenshaw did his best to lift the team’s spirit. Finals were already done with, always a plus.

“After finals we went to his classroom and he kind of had a little PowerPoint [presentation],” Thomas said. “It had a picture of us when we won our first tournament. It was supposed to be motivating.”

Thomas was already pumped. It was possibly the senior’s last time competing against the Mustangs if the two schools don’t meet in the playoffs.

But this was the postseason to Thomas, who has only experienced the CIF Southern Section playoffs only once in her career. She might not get another shot, as Costa Mesa got revenge at home, beating Estancia, 4-1, to improve to 3-1-3 and claim first place in league.

The Eagles are now in second place, tied with Laguna Beach at 3-2-2. Two league games remain, but with key players injured, the future looks bleak for Estancia. This after everything appeared promising after last week’s feats at home, beating Costa Mesa, 3-1, and Calvary Chapel, 4-0.

“It was short lived,” Thomas said. “[The Mustangs] get [bragging rights] all year and we just got it for a week.

“This week was [a] bad week.”

This week reminded Thomas of her previous three years. Inconsistency has hurt the Eagles. The only consistent thing this week has been losing big, 5-0 at Laguna Beach and 4-1 at Costa Mesa.

The lone goal belongs to Thomas. She’s accounted for 38.4% of the team’s goals in league.

This week the Eagles have struggled getting the ball to their fastest player. Much of that has to do with starting midfielders Nushin Tasbihchi and Jackie Freiberger out with ankle and knee injuries. Crenshaw had to move up a defensive player, but it didn’t pan out.

“We got to figure out how to feed those balls to Jennifer and let her run,” Crenshaw said. “She gives us a different dimension. We’re not the fastest team in the world. She’s got speed. She’s our go-to person.

“She wanted this one bad.”

So much that it irritated Thomas after the match. More so when she saw the Mustangs kick an Eagle doll while celebrating. She did the same to a pony doll after last week’s victory, so she understood.

DAVID CARRILLO PEÑALOZA may be reached at (714) 966-4612 or at david.carrillo@latimes.com.