Boys soccer: Shorthanded Sailors blasted, 5-0

Barry Faulkner

IRVINE - Two of the Newport Harbor High boys soccer team’s three

goals for the season were erased Tuesday in a second-half Woodbridge

scoring barrage that keyed a 5-0 Sea View League win at Alton Park.

But, the fact that the Sailors took those two goals -- beating

Woodbridge and winning the league title -- into their final

regular-season game, gives Coach Kevin Esparza’s squad hope of achieving

it’s third.

That third goal?

“Winning CIF,” said Esparza, whose team, playing without three

starters, battled gamely for a half with the Warriors (19-2, 6-1 in

league), the No. 1 ranked team in CIF Southern Section Division III.

Woodbridge, however, exploded for four second-half goals to clinch its

second straight Sea View crown, its fifth in eight years, according to

Coach Jon Szczuka.

“If we could have gotten into halftime at 0-0, I think we might have

pulled it off,” said Esparza, who saw the hosts break the shutout with

some precision passing in the 37th minute.

Matt Langus finished a cross from the corner by teammate Peter Lowry

for what amounted to the game-winner.

Lowry, Langus, Kevin Long and Peiter Berger all found the net in the

first 24 minutes of the second half to help the Warriors hit their Sea

View per-game average. Berger, like Newport standout Tyson Wahl headed

for UC Berkeley, has 24 goals this season.

Newport (9-7-2, 5-3) limited Woodbridge to a 1-0 victory their first

league meeting Jan. 11.

This time, however, the Tars were forced to battle without Wahl

(pulled back muscle), Adam Kerns (sprained ankle), as well as a third

starter out for disciplinary reasons.

“When you get down two goals to Woodbridge, that means you’ve got to

score three,” Esparza said. “It’s hard enough scoring one against them.

Woodbridge has a lot of quality players who do quality work.”

Esparza also credited his players with quality work, the product of

which allowed them to enter Tuesday’s clash tied with Woodbridge atop the

league standings. The Sailors second-place finish puts them in the

postseason for only the second time in the last five years. It also

surprised first-year coach Esparza.

“I didn’t think we’d be here (playing for the league title),” Esparza

admitted. “We were playing for two of our three goals this year

(Tuesday).”

Junior Jose Serpas (two), seniors Redge Bendheim and David Marshall,

as well as junior Roman Zacurri accounted for Newport Harbor’s five

shots. Woodbridge finished with 23.

Gary Grimes, Matt Tracy, Brandon Gould, Bendheim and David Manchester

all made noteworthy defensive plays for the Sailors and sophomore goalie

Hector Campos had four saves.

Esparza said the Sailors bye Thursday will allow Wahl and Kerns to

heal their injuries. He expects both back for the playoffs.

Bendheim, who received an automatic ejection by virtue of two yellow

cards Tuesday, will be forced, by rule, to sit out the first playoff

game.