Eagles open nicely

COSTA MESA — There was sure to be at least some pain for the Estancia High girls’ soccer team Tuesday.

The Eagles played against Mayfair. The team from Lakewood has knocked Estancia out of the CIF Southern Section Division III playoffs the past two years.

But this time the agony didn’t come in the form of a loss for the Eagles. They only experienced some aching regret for the scoring chances they missed on, forcing them to settle for a 0-0 tie in their season opener at Jim Scott Stadium.

Still, Estancia finished with some satisfaction, as the Eagles gained confidence. Just having the Monsoons on their schedule seemed to lift their spirits as it was a challenge they didn’t back down from.

“The reason we played this game is we’re just ripping the band-aid off. We’re going for it,” said Jessica Gatica, Estancia’s second-year coach. “If we see them again, now we know what we’re looking for. Now the girls have the jitters out. They have the butterflies out of their stomach. They had them starting the game today, so I told them, ‘This isn’t a season-ender for any of you. So let’s just play your game and relax.’

“If we get to see them again we know what to expect and we’ll put them away.”

Estancia had its chances to close the door on Mayfair in the first half when the Eagles controlled the action. Just less than five minutes into the match, junior Erin O’Neil missed on a header, as it sailed over the goal. Senior Nushin Tasbihchi served up a great corner kick, but O’Neil, last year’s Orange Coast League Defensive Player of the Year, couldn’t finish.

Then 10 minutes later, junior Alissa Scheafer nearly scored, as her shot just went off the fingertips of senior goalie Briana Quintana. But the Eagles still couldn’t get in the rebound.

Junior Jackie Freiberger came close to scoring in the 22nd minute.

But Quintana, who had 10 saves, kept turning the Eagles away, which was quite impressive. She was playing in her first soccer game, Mayfair Coach Sal Marroquin said. Quintana has played softball for the Monsoons in her first three years.

Marroquin needed to Quintana to play well, since Estancia consistently pressured Mayfair.

“Jessica has done a great job with them,” Marroquin said of Gatica and her Eagles. “They are getting better. They are now a lot better from two years ago. I think she is doing a great job over there and that team is going to keep getting stronger.”

Estancia appears to be a much different team from 2007 and even from last year. The Eagles lost to Mayfair, 3-0, in the second round of the Division III playoffs in 2007. Last year, the Monsoons ended Estancia’s season again in the second round with a 2-0 victory.

On Tuesday, the Monsoons also had some chances to score the win, but the Eagles stopped them. Senior goalie Ally Wallace led that effort with six saves.

Freiberger nearly connected on a cross from sophomore Heather Flores in the 66th minute.

“In my head, I was thinking, ‘this is a goal,’ but I messed up,” Freiberger said. “We all worked together to get up there and I just kicked it right to her. I just nailed it right to her.”

The Eagles are hoping to finish their chances Thursday when they play at Corona del Mar in a nonleague game that starts at 3:15 p.m.