Anaya lifts Mustangs to win

Luis Anaya was not around when the Costa Mesa High boys’ soccer team won just one game all of last season.

The diminutive freshman striker was in eighth grade then. But this year, Anaya is making quite an impression for the Mustangs.

Before Orange Coast League play even begins, the Mustangs have doubled that win total. Anaya is a big reason why.

He scored two goals Friday night, including the game-winner in the 76th minute, as the Mustangs edged Sage Hill, 3-2, in a nonleague game at Jim Scott Stadium.

“It felt good to get the game-winning goal, and that was I able to celebrate with my team,” Anaya said. “I feel good. It’s a strong team. It’s got lots of character.”

Costa Mesa (2-3-1) opens league play next week, at Laguna Beach on Wednesday and against Estancia in the first Battle for the Bell game on Friday. Anaya made sure the Mustangs could go into league with momentum.

Junior defender Hugo Duarte, a co-captain, dribbled up the field and played the ball forward to Anaya in the closing minutes. He was able to control it and dribble past the charging Sage Hill goalkeeper, before firing it into the empty net.

“The two center backs, I knew I could split them open,” said Duarte, who said he was still a bit apprehensive because he played the ball forward with his weaker left foot. “I tried it, gave it to Luis, he did what he had to do and he won the game for us.

Sage Hill (1-9-1), which was coming off a big Academy League-opening win over St. Margaret’s on Tuesday, was unable to find the equalizer. Instead, the Mustangs — minus their head coach — were able to celebrate after the final whistle.

Mesa Coach Amos Hernandez missed Friday’s game due to picking up a red card in the Mustangs’ previous game Dec. 19 against Whittier, assistant coach Luis Turcios said.

“I think this is a big momentum-builder,” Turcios said. “We played well against a good team. They’re coming off a real high winning against [St. Margaret’s], so obviously they’re playing with a lot of energy and enthusiasm. So for us to hold them down and match that, especially going into league next week, it’s a good momentum-builder.”

Sage Hill struck first in the 25th minute, when senior Milad Rohani scored on an assist from freshman Chase Munger. But Anaya answered five minutes later, making a nifty move around a Sage defender before burying the shot into the back of the net.

Two minutes later, the Mustangs went ahead with an impressive sequence. Anaya played the ball ahead to junior Ben Perez, who crossed it in front of the goal from the left to sophomore Jeyson Calderon. Calderon’s shot was on-target, giving Costa Mesa a 2-1 halftime lead.

It didn’t last long. In the 50th minute, a Costa Mesa defender committed a hand-ball in the box. Sage senior Nikoli Sadeghi scored the penalty shot, and the game was tied.

The Mustangs nearly went ahead in the 69th minute, but Sage keeper Parthiv Worah made a nice save on Anaya at the right post. Minutes later, though, Anaya scored the eventual game-winner.

“We gave up two goals on the counter, which we’ve got to work on,” first-year Sage Hill Coach Luis Cruz said. “But other than that, it was a good game. They have a very good team.

“We have at least three tough games coming up [in league against Crean Lutheran and St. Margaret’s], but I think we’ve prepared. These games have definitely got us ready. We don’t see this kind of competition in our league.”

Worah and junior Robert Rosoff split time in goal for the Lightning, combining for five saves. Seniors Anthony Gil and Zach Burns pushed the action for Sage, creating scoring chances.

Costa Mesa keepers Axel Morales and Christian Garcia combined for four saves. The Mustangs also benefited from the midfield play of their other co-captain, senior Andres Ramirez.

Duarte said he sees potential in league for the Mustangs, who finished fifth in the six-team league last year. They have not advanced to the CIF playoffs since 2011.

“I believe we have the potential to make it to CIF if we all play with heart and desire, which I know we all have because we proved it here today,” Duarte said. “If we get wins and ties against hard teams, we’ll make it. Coming into this season, as captain, I want to prove that Mesa’s not a weak team. We have what it takes to hang in there with [league opponents] Godinez, Estancia, Saddleback.

“We’re always the underdog, but I like being the underdog. Prove them wrong.”