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Girls’ Soccer: Estancia remains perfect after 2-0 victory against Newport Harbor

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Isabelle Cruz provided the lead in the opening minute of the game.

Alondra Guzman proved the two-goal cushion near the end of the second half.

Cruz is just a freshman for the Estancia High girls’ soccer team, and Guzman is a senior. But class doesn’t really matter this year for the Eagles.

Estancia just has a bunch of good soccer players. The Eagles made visiting Newport Harbor take notice Tuesday night in a nonleague game at Jim Scott Stadium.

The Eagles blanked the Sailors, 2-0, staying perfect on the season. And there is some thought that it could turn out to be a special one for Estancia (6-0), ranked No. 3 in the CIF Southern Section Division 5 coaches’ poll.

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“Senior year, it feels pretty great,” said goalkeeper Caitlin Leahy, who made seven saves. “We want to win our league and go past the second round of CIF, for sure ... I think we’re a really strong team and everyone should watch out for us this year.”

Estancia has never made it out of the second round of CIF in Coach Jessica Perry’s seven-year tenure. But something just feels different about the Eagles this year. They have outscored opponents by a combined 17-1 this season.

Cruz made Newport Harbor (2-5) pay just 30 seconds into the game, taking advantage of a turnover in the Newport Harbor defense and finding the back of the net for her third goal of the year.

“It’s obviously very exciting [scoring so early], but it’s also kind of a little nerve-wracking, that the girls might get complacent,” Perry said. “Luckily, our defense stayed super-tight. Caitlin commands a lot back there, which is awesome. I think Brandi White did a phenomenal job shutting down [Newport Harbor sophomore forward] Sianna [Siemonsma]. I think Brandi frustrated her a bunch, and we kind of shut down any offense they had from that point on.”

In the 74th minute it was Guzman, who made a series of moves before scoring her team-best fifth goal to put the game away for the Eagles.

Perry credits the senior leadership of players like Guzman, Caitlin and Sarah Leahy and Cal State Fullerton-bound midfielder Alba Barrios, all four-year varsity players.

“They’re kind of setting a standard that they’re holding the rest of the girls to,” Perry said. “The girls are rising to the occasion, and it’s great.”

White did so Tuesday, with her defense on Siemonsma. Siemonsma and Newport senior Matilda Higman did have the Sailors’ best chances to score early in the second half, but Caitlin Leahy was there each time. She was there again later in the half, after Siemonsma got free when White twisted her left ankle.

Leahy knows Siemonsma well, as both play club soccer for Slammers FC.

“We scrimmage her all the time,” Leahy said.

Tuesday’s game counted in the standings. Newport Harbor Coach Larry Draluck has seen uneven play from his Sailors, who did upset rival Corona del Mar 1-0 last week on Siemonsma’s goal in a pool-play game of the Aliso Cup tournament. The defense remained active Tuesday, particularly junior Paige Fults, while Katie Robinson and Danielle Manderson combined for six saves.

Draluck’s side wasn’t helped because he said senior midfielder Toni Holland, one of four captains along with Higman and senior defenders Brooke Zachry and Melisa Camano, missed the game with food poisoning. But he also credited Estancia for playing with more energy.

“We come here often and usually we get a result,” said Draluck, whose Sailors beat Estancia each of the last two years. “I think [the Eagles] are tired of being a doormat, you know, like a lower-level team. They finally say to themselves, ‘Hey, we’re going to kick some butt here,’ and they bring energy.”

The Eagles have more opportunities to impress. They play host to Marina on Thursday before resuming play in the Best in the West tournament on Monday. Estancia plays Warren in the “EFGH” Division tournament semifinals at 11 a.m. Monday at Mayfair High in Lakewood.

Newport Harbor plays at Tesoro in a nonleague game Thursday.

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