Boys soccer: Mesa falls to Cypress

The Costa Mesa High boys soccer team had its scoring chances, but

could not capitalize and fell to visiting Cypress, 3-0, in a nonleague

game Monday.

“We had about three or four close scoring chances, but we just didn’t

put it in the right place,” Costa Mesa Coach Eugene Day said.

One chance for the Mustangs came nine minutes into the second half,

when Arturo Vasquez made a cross pass to Irwin Salas, who tipped the ball

just wide of the net.

Costa Mesa (1-3) also had a strong chance to score in the first half

when Elli Solis made a cross pass to Socrates Cruz, who tried to kick the

ball into the net as the Cypress goalkeeper smothered it 26 minutes into

the game.

Although Cypress arrived 45 minutes late, Day said the Centurions were

definitely ready to play.

“They got off the bus and started playing and were beating us to the

ball,” Day said. “They had good speed. We had some speed, but we did not

push ourselves.”

Day said the Mustangs had a good warm-up but when it came to game

time, Cypress was on the ball.

“We should have been beating them to the ball, but the wanted it

more,” Day said. “That’s the bottom line. They wanted it more mentally

and physically.”

The game was closer than the score reveals. The Centurions outshot

Costa Mesa, 9-7. Cypress sealed the win by scoring on a penalty shot with

five minutes left in the game.

Christian Lopez made five saves and Bryce Sheridan made four for the

Mustangs.