Soccer: Argueta shines, but Blues win
IRVINE — The loudest chants began late in the first half for a player who wasn’t even playing for the host Orange County Blues FC.
Close to four dozen fans came out to support Rony Argueta against the Blues on Wednesday. For most of the night, the home fans heard, “Let’s go Rony!”
For those who don’t know who Argueta is, he played soccer at Estancia High, not far from where he and the Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC faced the Blues at UC Irvine. The 24-year-old plays for a first-year team in the United Soccer League, the third tier of professional soccer in the U.S.
Argueta made the Switchbacks in October as a midfielder. The position is the same one he stood out at while at Estancia, before he graduated in 2009.
While in high school, his mother, Paulina, rarely saw Argueta play because she worked as a housekeeper. But she’s always been her son’s No. 1 fan, and this season, she has watched Argueta play twice in person.
The first time was in Colorado Springs, Colo., where half a dozen family members attended the Switchbacks’ April 4 home opener. The affair proved to be special, but for Argueta, there’s nothing like playing in front of family, friends, former teammates and former coaches near where he grew up.
While Argueta’s trip back home didn’t go his way, the Blues beat the Switchbacks, 3-1, to move into a first-place tie in the Western Conference with Sacramento Republic FC, the experience is one he will never forget.
Argueta earned his first start for the Switchbacks. He’s come a long way from a year ago, when he was a spectator at a Blues match.
“I was out here with my coach [RJ Wilson] from [my] UC Santa Barbara club team, and we were watching the game, and I told him, ‘One day I’m going to be out here playing,’ and here I am today in front of my family and friends,” Argueta said. “The atmosphere was great. I appreciate all the support.”
The one player to quiet Argueta’s fan base seemed to be Christofer Ramirez. The Blues improved to 5-2-0 and have 15 points, thanks to Ramirez’s two goals.
The Salvadoran beat goalkeeper Devala Gorrick in the 38th minute, taking advantage of a defensive lapse. Ramirez broke a scoreless tie with a shot from the top of the 18-yard box. He then put the match away with a shot just outside the box in the 80th minute, giving the Blues a two-goal lead.
The lone goal by the Switchbacks (3-4-0) came five minutes into the second half. After a corner kick, Aaron King, using his back heel, redirected JJ Greer’s shot in the box to even things at 1-1.
Shortly afterward, the Blues earned a corner kick. Seung Ju Kim found Brenton Griffiths, who put the Blues on top with his header in the 57th minute.
The Switchbacks never really challenged keeper Pepe Miranda, who finished with three saves. Miranda’s last save was against Argueta late, and even though the local boy was unsuccessful, he left the field with a smile on his face.
Family and friends greeted Argueta after the match. They planned to celebrate Argueta’s first start afterward.
“Rony has always been a guy who has wanted to prove everybody wrong,” said Gannon Burks, Argueta’s former coach at Estancia. “The ultimate goal is to get to the MLS. If he continues to play hard, he can still make it.”