Girls soccer: CdM rains on Mesa’s playoffs

Joseph Boo

CORONA DEL MAR - It was simple for Costa Mesa High’s girls soccer

team. Beat Corona del Mar and go to the CIF Southern Section Division IV

playoffs. Lose, and the Mustangs are out.

Instead, Costa Mesa played Pacific Coast League champion CdM to a

scoreless tie in a soggy field Thursday at CdM.

Meanwhile at Estancia, University beat the Eagles, 2-1 in injury time to

tie Mesa for third place in the PCL. With the Trojans having the

head-to-head record at 1-0-1, Uni advances to the CIF playoffs, by a few

seconds over Mesa.

It wasn’t a lack of effort that kept Costa Mesa (8-3-9, 2-2-4 in league)

from making the playoffs. The Mustangs played gutsy defense that just

stifled CdM’s powerful offense.

“Both teams played well,” Costa Mesa Coach Dan Johnston said. “Our kids

did what we had to do. We had some opportunities we didn’t take advantage

of, and CdM had some opportunities they didn’t take advantage of.”

The Sea Kings (15-4-4, 6-0-2) did not let a fired up Mesa squad overwhelm

them. In fact, CdM had more scoring chances than the Mustangs with five

corner kicks in the first half. But Mesa’s defense, led by Katie Roche,

Marissa Dinsdale and goalie Margaret Landeros, cleared balls out and

refused any good shots.

“We came out and played well,” CdM coach Ron Evans said. “But they have a

good defense. They don’t give up a lot of goals.”

CdM’s defense was pretty good too. Any Mesa counters seem to be

magnetically attracted to CdM fullback Molly O’Meara, who promptly

restarted the Sea Kings’ attack.

The Sea Kings almost got a goal but Kate Simon’s shot just went wide. CdM

also got a near-open shot, but Mesa’s Faride Loera stuffed Allison

Brawner. On the other side, CdM goalie Britta Vogele came out to stop a

charging Julie Kroening. It was the third time Vogele came out to stop a

Mustang attack.

CdM wraps up an undefeated league schedule and start the playoffs next

Saturday after a bye week, against an opponent to be determined.

“We didn’t drop the game, and that’s good,” Evans said. “Our girls wanted

the undefeated record.”

Irony was very cruel for Mesa in the form of injury time. In their first

game, the Mustangs missed a tie with the Sea Kings by a few seconds, when

O’Meara scored a controversial goal in added time. On Thursday, Uni

scored in added time against Estancia to advance to the playoffs.

“This was practically the same game as the last one,” Johnston said of

his 0-0 tie. “The difference is that this game ended on time.”

If only that happened earlier.