Estancia coach not afraid to claim win

Estancia High boys’ soccer coach Gannon Burks didn’t want to confuse anyone when talking about a photo shoot for his player, Rony Argueta.

Argueta, a junior who scored the game-winning goal in Estancia’s 1-0 win over Norwalk in the first round of the CIF Southern Section Division III playoffs Friday, is the Daily Pilot’s High School Male Athlete of the Week. Gannon said he expects Argueta to pose for a photo Wednesday at the Eagles’ practice. Practice?

Estancia plays today in a second-round game against No. 2-seeded Santa Ana at Santa Ana Stadium’s Eddie West Field at 3 p.m.

“We’re going to practice [Wednesday] because we’re going to win [today],” Burks said. “We’ll all be there on Wednesday.”

Burks’ confidence is riding high from Argueta’s goal that came with one minute left and gave the Eagles (11-6-3) an emotional victory. The win was Burks’ first playoff victory, as Estancia advanced past the first round for the first time in four years.

But that’s not the only reason for Burks’ swagger. The Eagles tied with Santa Ana, 3-3, Dec. 12, when Estancia let a 3-0, halftime lead slip away.

Junior Jose Reyes, who is the Eagles’ second-leading scorer, had two goals, and senior Eric Duarte, who leads the team with 12 goals, scored the other.

But Coach Joe Penaflor’s Saints (19-2-3) came back with three goals of their own in the second half.

For the Saints, Jose Bahena scored twice and Edgar Islas had one goal.

Burks said the Eagles had a freshman goalkeeper playing in his first game at that position for that game.

“We had our starting goalie [Fermin Marquez] out with a separated shoulder,” Burks said. “The other goalie [Andreas Villareal] was in Mexico for personal issues.

“We’re not the same team and I’m sure they are not either.”

Santa Ana, which beat Anaheim, 2-1, in the first round Friday, finished second in the Golden West League behind Saddleback (22-2-1), a 3-1 winner over Los Altos in the first round. Santa Ana did beat Saddleback in Golden West League play.

Burks is quite familiar with both teams. His Eagles played in the Golden West League two years ago.

Though Burks believes his team will win, he knows it won’t come easy.

“I’m expecting a dog fight,” Burks said. “I know it’s going to be a good game, evenly matched. I think it will come down to who finishes.”

Burks is hoping his players build off their big win Friday, but wants them to concentrate solely on the Saints.

“That was an emotional game for them,” Burks said. “I try to tell them to take it one game at a time. But you got to celebrate it. Estancia hadn’t been out of the first round in four years. It was a positive step. Sometimes just getting that confidence means: who knows what they are capable of doing now? They are that good.”

Estancia lost the coin flip to Santa Ana to put the match at Eddie West Field. Today’s winner will play the winner of the El Rancho-at-Walnut match Thursday in the quarterfinals.

STEVE VIRGEN may be reached at (714) 966-4616 or by e-mail at [email protected].