Argueta overwhelming

COSTA MESA — A camera placed on top of a 23-foot pole followed Natalie Argueta on the soccer field. The job of the camera operator is to focus on the Costa Mesa High senior.

He never lost sight of Argueta. Sage Hill School did on a cold Thursday night.

Argueta put on an offensive show. She scored twice and assisted on another goal as the host Mustangs hammered Sage Hill, 6-0, in a nonleague girls’ match at Jim Scott Stadium.

In Costa Mesa’s two matches this season, the striker has totaled five goals. More matches mean more opportunities to add to her highlight reel.

There’s a reason why Marco Argueta pays a professional to film his daughter’s matches.

“So I can get [my name] out there,” Argueta said. “I really want to play in college.”

Argueta has caught the attention of her father’s home country, Guatemala. Argueta said she joins the under-20 national team next month.

Until then, Argueta is trying to lead Costa Mesa (2-0) to as many victories before she leaves.

“I feel so lucky to have an experience like this because not every girl gets to,” Argueta said.

What Argueta lacks in size, she makes up for it with her speed. Her pace was too fast for the Lightning.

Coach Chino Cid joked when Sage Hill faces Costa Mesa around this time of the year, the Lightning usually give the Mustangs their first win. Costa Mesa will gladly take its second this season.

The Mustangs displayed a balanced attack. Beside Argueta, four other players scored, starting with Sami Feinstein, Cindy Mejia, Monique Ramirez and Marisol Huicochea.

Behind Danielle Young and Shaylen McNulty, the defense shut down Sage Hill (0-2). The best scoring chance for the Lightning came in the 68th minute.

By this time, Costa Mesa starting goalkeeper Hayley Smith was gone, leaving the match at halftime. Coach Dan Johnston said Smith went to choir practice.

Backup keeper Brittney Stair quieted Sage Hill’s Maddie Culberson on a breakaway, preserving the shutout.

“I couldn’t have asked for more,” Johnston said of the Mustangs’ effort, which improved after the season opener against Los Amigos. “[The work ethic was] one thing that we had some problems with earlier and they took it to heart. We watched game film from the previous game right before we came over [to play at Estancia High]. I showed them all the mistakes and they were bound and determined not to make them again.”

One thing Costa Mesa expects to repeat is winning the Orange Coast League.

The Mustangs lost an ample amount of seniors off last year’s team sharing the league championship. With the group they have this year, an eighth straight league title is possible.

For the stretch in January in which Argueta will be gone due to her commitment to the Guatemalan team, Johnston said the team would miss her.

“That will really hurt,” Johnston said of Argueta’s unavailability for some league matches. “We’re trying to get everybody else up to her speed.”

When Argueta returns from Guatemala, don’t be surprised to see the spotlight on her again.