Girls’ Soccer: Estancia falls in final of Best in the West tournament
HAWAIIAN GARDENS — Bad luck and injuries converged on the Estancia High girls’ soccer team at the wrong time Monday afternoon.
Two shots — one with an empty net — clanged off the right post in the second half of the Eagles’ Best in the West tournament “EFGH” Division title game against Mayfair.
After it was all over, Estancia fell in the final to Mayfair, 2-0, at Fedde Sports Complex, suffering its first loss of the season.
But Coach Jessica Perry said that might not be a bad thing for the Eagles (7-1-1), who came close to winning their first tournament since 2008-09.
“I do feel a little relieved to get the loss out of the way,” Perry said. “We’ve been working on trying not to focus on wins and losses and the hype that’s been put around us, and just trying to stay game-to-game. But you know, it’s human nature to get excited about things. I
“f our loss comes in a tournament final, it’s a great way to go out. We’ve got another tournament coming up, we’ve got another preseason game and then league starts. It’s really not that big of a deal to get a loss, because we’re going to come back and work hard. It’s going to add fuel to the fire for us.”
Estancia, ranked No. 3 in CIF Southern Section Division 6, played well against a more physical side from Mayfair (5-2). But the Monsoons scored the game’s first goal late in the first half, when sophomore forward Nadiyah Siquieros perfectly lofted a shot into the upper portion of the net.
The Eagles worked hard early in the second half to score the equalizer, even down two forwards. Freshman Isabelle Cruz (knee) and junior Emily Rodriguez (head) were both injured in the semifinal game earlier Monday, a 1-0 victory against Warren at Mayfair High. Senior Alondra Guzman scored that game’s only goal, in the 56th minute, her team-best sixth of the year.
Guzman had a shot in the second half of the title game, too, with the Mayfair goalie drawn out to block the shot of Ashley McHugh. But it hit the post. Later in the half, junior Samantha Falasco also hit the right post off a cross from sophomore Katarina Freiberger.
“It was really unlucky,” said Falasco, a talented junior defender who has committed to the University of Maryland . “We should have scored them, but it’s OK. It’ll get us better prepared for league. We’ll make them when it counts.”
Seniors Sarah Leahy and Alba Barrios kept setting up Eagles’ chances from the midfield position. So did Falasco, who was moved up to the midfield in the second half. Several times, she dribbled through several defenders before making a nice pass or earning a corner kick.
“When she wants to, she can take control of a game,” Perry said. “This afternoon, she had about 20 minutes of that where she was like, ‘Nope, this is the way it’s going to go now.’ She commands the respect of the other team.”
But Mayfair added an insurance goal after it got some good fortune. A shot was blocked by an Estancia defender, but the ball found the feet of Siquieros on the right side of the box. She crossed the ball into the middle, where freshman Haley Davis put it away in the 68th minute to give the Monsoons a 2-0 lead.
The goals were just the second and third given up all season by Estancia.
“I think luck just wasn’t on our side,” said Perry, whose Eagles received five saves from senior goalie Caitlin Leahy.
Estancia opens play at the North Orange County Classic this weekend. The Eagles play host to St. Joseph of Lakewood in their first pool-play game at 8 a.m. Saturday at Jim Scott Stadium.
