Boys soccer: Lightning in knots, 3-3

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO - The Sage Hill High boys soccer team lost a

3-2 lead with five minutes left and settled for a 3-3 tie with Academy

League host Capistrano Valley Christian Friday.

Julian Smith-Newman scored two unassisted goals for the Lightning

(4-3-1, 1-0-1) and Cesar Arriaga added Sage Hill’s last goal with an

assist from Smith-Newman. Arriaga also played goalkeeper in the first

half, finishing with four saves. Jordan Salinger stopped three shots as

Sage Hill’s goalkeeper in the second half.

Coach Noureddine El-Alam’s Lightning rallied from a 2-1 halftime

deficit, but the Eagles tied the game with five minutes remaining on a

penalty kick.

The Eagles improved to 4-3-3, 0-1-1.”He’s such a great player,”

El-Alam said of Arriaga, who’s the younger brother of former Estancia

High and Orange Coast College standout Hilario. “He’s an excellent field

player and he’s in great in the goal, like his brother.”