Girls soccer: Mesa falls to Uni

Joseph Boo

IRVINE - Both Costa Mesa High and host University’s girls soccer

teams had their chances to score. The difference in Tuesday’s Pacific

Coast League game was that Uni converted on its chances, while Mesa

didn’t. That meant a 3-0 Uni win.

“We have to score goals,” Costa Mesa Coach Dan Johnston said. “It’s kind

of frustrating.”

Costa Mesa (6-2-5, 1-1-0 in league) has gone 0-2-1 in its last three

games after going undefeated in its first 10. The Mustangs, ranked No. 6

in CIF Southern Section Division IV, certainly had their chances against

Uni (2-7-1, 1-0-0).

But the Trojans scored first in the 25th minute when Kate Cumsky took

advantage of a ball Mesa couldn’t clear. They put Mesa in a 2-0 hole at

the start of the second half when Lindsay Paulick scored on an impressive

sliding kick.

Mesa then started to press hard on offense, with Sharon Day and Nichelle

Janti pushing the ball up from the left side. The Mustangs got six shots

on goal in the second half, and their best scoring chance came when Katie

Roche fired a shot that went too high.

But with Mesa’s personnel committed to offense, the Trojans took

advantage of a weakened defense, getting a goal from Brook Ferguson in

the 70th minute to take an insurmountable lead.

“We played pretty well, Johnston said. “Bu we have to make use of our

opportunities.”

Mesa goalie Margaret Landeros had seven saves, but the Mustangs have

given up five goals in their last three games, compared to three in their

first 10. Some lineup changes may come when Mesa resumes PCL play,

according to Johnston. The Mustangs take a break in league play with a

bye Thursday.