Mustangs make it 9-0 in league with win

Costa Mesa remains undefeated in Golden West League action with lopsided victory over Santa Ana on Thursday.COSTA MESA -- The Costa Mesa High girls’ soccer team has been spreading the wealth this season. While Sharon Frazier and Jasmin Day have been doing the bulk of the scoring -- usually off of passes from assist leader Kyla Flores -- a handful of other players usually find their way into the scoring column on any given day.

On Thursday, six different players found the back of the net as the Mustangs downed Santa Ana, 7-0, to stay undefeated in Golden West League action.

Alaina Abalos led the offensive charge with two goals and Frazier, Flores, Day, Sam Strodel and Kyra Graham also added goals for the Mustangs.

When Costa Mesa (ranked No. 7 in CIF Southern Section Division III) edged Westminster on Tuesday, Caitlyn Duffy netted the game’s only goal. When the Mustangs took down crosstown rival Estancia Jan. 19, Marina Lazos, Ayla Medina, Day and Flores scored goals.

“We really have been spreading it around,” Costa Mesa Coach Dan Johnston said.

Costa Mesa’s lopsided victory over Santa Ana made it nine consecutive Golden West League wins and improved its overall record to 13-3-2.

Abalos netted the game’s first goal on a header off of Flores’ corner kick. Costa Mesa’s 10th shot of the game, also courtesy of Abalos after she snuck behind the Santa Ana defense and came in alone on backup goalkeeper Marcela Lopez, gave the Mustangs a 3-0 lead.

In between Abalos’ two goals, Day sent a pass to Frazier down the left side, and Frazier angled in on the goal before passing to Strodel, who had half an open net to shoot at and didn’t miss.

Day and Frazier added goals to give the Mustangs a 5-0 lead at halftime. Frazier leads Costa Mesa with 14 goals this season and has added nine assists. Day is second on the team with 13 goals. Flores has tallied a team-high 16 assists.

“We did what we set out to do,” Johnston said. “We wanted to improve our first-touch control, and our loss of possessions were way down. We worked all week on improving aspects of our passing game, and today we did some intricate passing.”

The Mustangs might have won by more goals if not for Santa Ana starting goalkeeper Yesenia Beltran, who made several diving saves. When Beltran left the game after getting hit in the face midway through the first half, the Mustangs netted four quick goals.

Beltran returned after halftime and held Costa Mesa to two second-half goals. She finished with eight saves.

“She’s a great goalie, I hope she goes on to play somewhere,” Santa Ana Coach Laura Hargrove said.

Costa Mesa had 29 shots on goal compared to one for Santa Ana, and took nine corner kicks.

In two league games this season, the Mustangs have outscored the Saints, 18-0.

“They are a great team,” Hargrove said. “In terms of our league, they’re tops. Even including our nonleague opponents, I’d say they’re pretty high up there. I wish them success in CIF.”

Golden West League

Costa Mesa 7, Santa Ana 0

Score by Halves