Boys soccer: Eagles begin new year with win

Steve Virgen

COSTA MESA - With a strong focus on improvement, the Estancia High

boys soccer team began the new year with a win and some realistic hope

for the near future.

The Eagles (4-2-3) are becoming as one and visiting Servite witnessed

the results as Estancia senior Juan Zarate connected on a sensational

goal in the 56th minute to break a 1-1 tie and the Eagles finished with a

2-1 nonleague victory Wednesday.

“We have to sharpen up again after the Christmas break,” said Estancia

Coach Steve Crenshaw who gave his team 11 days off. “We’re still a little

tentative on our finishing, but we’re starting to put that together. The

communication up front was better.”

The vacation time didn’t seem to stop the Eagles from attacking

against Servite (7-4-2). Though the Eagles lacked excitement, those

youthful wide eyes became a bit more relaxed.

They held a 1-0 advantage after senior Armando Ortiz scored on a

penalty kick. Friars goalie Cory Delgado was assessed a red card when he

tackled and held down Estancia junior Victor Cervantes, who appeared as

if he was about to score.

Ortiz faked left and shot right for the easy goal.

“I played these guys (Servite) two years ago,” said Ortiz who is a

team captain. “They knocked us out in the first round of CIF. I told

these guys, ‘If you guys want to win, you have to come together and work

hard.’ ”

The Eagles didn’t disappoint Ortiz. And, when Servite tied the score

in the second half, Estancia never let down.

The Friars played without seven of its players because of disciplinary

reasons. But, that didn’t stop them from grabbing the momentum in the

second half.

In the 45th minute, after Servite continued to threaten offensively,

Estancia was charged for a hand violation and the Friars’ Chris Peterson

imitated Ortiz with a penalty-kick goal.

“Overall, I was pleased with our play today,” Crenshaw said. “We’re

young. I have six sophomores on the field. Everybody expects the same

thing we had last year with 128 (actualy 122) goals. We’re not going to

put that on the board. These guys are capable of that but we’re a young

team.”

After Servite’s goal tied the game, it was if the Eagles woke up.

Their revived play led to more scoring opportunities. Zarate took

complete advantage of his scoring chance in the 56th minute.

He settled a loose ball with his chest as his back was to Servite’s

goal. He spun and let off a booming kick that sent the ball to the back

of the net.

The 2-1 lead allowed the Eagles to spread out their attack and the

Friars could not mount a threat.

Said Crenshaw, “All the guys up front are going to be here for two

more years after this, which nobody wants to hear. We’re tying or beating

very good teams right now, and we’re doing it with a young team.

“We open league next week (hosting Costa Mesa Wednesday at the Farm

Sports Complex)) and that’s when it all counts. We have to win that to go

on. I think we can make a statement. If we can keep our focus and get

excited, we’ll be around come postseason.”