Boys soccer: Mustangs take care of Laguna Beach

Tony Altobelli

COSTA MESA - When the Costa Mesa High boys soccer team plays its

game, it’s precise, calculated and very controlled.

So, how would Coach Eugene Day describe the Mustangs’ play during

Friday’s 1-0 Pacific Coast League win over visiting Laguna Beach?

“We played kickball today,” Day said with a wry smile. “When we played

under control, we controlled the game, but any time Laguna Beach put some

pressure on us, it became a game of kickball, which is definitely not our

style.”

Fortunately for the Mustangs (8-4-1, 2-1 in league) one goal was all

they would need against the Artists (6-5-1, 1-2).

Seven minutes into the game, Mesa sent a long pass into the Artists’

zone, but a Laguna Beach player was whistled for intentionally hitting

the ball with his hand, resulting in a penalty kick.

Senior Trinidad Hernandez took the penalty kick and drilled a shot

into the upper-right corner of the goal for the game’s lone tally.

“It was definitely the right call to make,” Day said of the

infraction. “The player swiped at it with his arm and you can’t do that,

especially in the box.”

There may have been only one goal scored, but there were many

near-misses for both teams, especially the Mustangs.

Hernandez himself had five opportunities, but was unable to find the

back of the net on any of them.

“Trini knows the game and he knows his way around the soccer field,”

Day said. “Today, he seemed to hurry his shots and that’s why he was just

missing out there. A little more under control and he’s easily got two or

three more goals in his pocket.”

The combination of Hernandez and senior Bernado Falci worked well

early. Falci nearly headed in a shot from Hernandez, then minutes later,

Falci returned the favor with a nice pass to Hernandez. But Hernandez’s

shot sailed just wide, sending an agonizing Day to the ground in

disbelief.

The Artists had a couple of scoring chances in the first half, but

fill-in goalie Louis Day (four saves) and defender Billy Lund each came

up with the big play to keep the ball out of the net.

Day was in goal for starter Bryce Sheridan, who was given a red card

in the Mustangs’ contest with Northwood Wednesday. Coach Day said

Sheridan will be back in goal Monday when Mesa plays at University at

3:15 p.m.

Laguna Beach brought some additional offensive pressure in the second

half and nearly tied the game on two different occasions.

Day made a nice diving save of a shot from Ryan Wolfe. Eight minutes

later, a Laguna corner kick found its way through seven different pairs

of legs before bouncing off the goal post.

Mesa managed to dodge the Artists’ threats, but there was no room to

relax until the final whistle sounded.

A tip shot by Laguna Beach’s Santos Sotelo nearly tied the game with

just a few minutes remaining, but Day managed to stretch his 6-foot-3

frame out as far as he could to tap it wide.

Coach Day was pleased with the play of defender Chasen Marshall. “He

reads his player so well,” he said.

Despite his team’s strong start in league, Coach Day would like to see

some improvement in certain areas before playoff time.

“Our forwards are playing well and our defense is getting there,” Day

said. “We need to tighten up a little in the middle so we can control

what’s going on better.”