Estancia goalie confuses Calvary

COSTA MESA — Madison Urtusuastegui heard the cheers on the Calvary Chapel sideline.

The Estancia goalie had just been crashed into by Calvary Chapel’s Brianna Vanderwal, who was trying to head in a goal off a Calvary Chapel corner kick.

After that, confusion reigned. But Urtusuastegui knew what was up.

She held onto the ball near the goal line, and Calvary Chapel thought it had scored the go-ahead goal. But Urtusuastegui never crossed the line, and Estancia held on for a 1-1 tie in the Orange Coast League opener for both teams Thursday at Estancia.

“I knew it wasn’t a goal,” said Urtusuastegui, a senior who finished with 15 big saves, also including one on Maria Pena’s point-blank shot in the first half. “I was expecting [a collision] because I’ve played with [Vanderwal] before. It was a fun game. Our defense played awesome.”

The league opener was a battle, as Estancia (8-5-1, 0-0-1 in league) went against a young, but fast, counterattacking team from Calvary Chapel (6-3-2, 0-0-1). In the first half, the visitors seemed to be getting the better of the deal.

“It just isn’t going to be an easy league,” Estancia Coach Steve Crenshaw said. “I think people look at a lot of sports and say, ‘This is going to be a soft league,’ but not in girls’ soccer.”

Down a goal at the half, Estancia came out aggressive and answered on the strength of Stacy McDaniels’ right foot. She booted in a long shot five minutes into the second half, knotting the score.

Senior defender Bridget Gleason said aggressive play was key.

“Our intensity was just so much higher,” Gleason said. “We had to keep it in their side of the field. They need to feel the pressure, because that’s when they’ll start making more mistakes than we will.”

The goal-scoring sequence started when Estancia midfielder Abby Scheafer won the ball from Calvary Chapel. Scheafer’s pass went along the sideline to Taylor West, who passed to McDaniels.

Then, McDaniels connected. The rising shot well outside the box floated just over Calvary Chapel goalie Jessica Poulsen’s fingertips.

“Stacy scores in the 25, 30, 35-yard range on direct kicks all the time,” Crenshaw said. “She’s got a big leg. We need to get her to pull the trigger more when she’s moving like that, because she’s pretty devastating when she’s moving.”

In addition to Urtusuategui’s corner-kick save in the 50th minute, sophomore defender Natalie Plascencia made another goal-saving play in the 78th minute. Plascencia headed the ball — which was curving toward the Estancia goal — out of bounds.

Calvary Chapel had most of the scoring opportunities in the first half, putting in a goal in the 22nd minute when Elizabeth Eddy drew two defenders on the right before passing to Olivia Clark, who broke free in front and scored.

Eddy and Natalie Nick, both speedy freshmen for Calvary Chapel, pushed the action for much of the game. But their counterattack diminished in the second half as Estancia took better control of the ball. Calvary Chapel did have a chance in stoppage time, but a free kick was just wide left.

“We’ve just got to control the ball better,” Crenshaw said. “They were countering off our mistakes. When we do what we have to do offensively, we won’t have to deal with that as much.”

And Gleason, a first-team All-Golden West League defender a year ago, wasn’t going to be intimidated.

“I know how to play with fast players,” Gleason said. “Whenever you anticipate the ball’s coming to them, you need to step on their back and stay on them hard. You make that your goal, to stay with that girl.”

After Costa Mesa tied Laguna Beach on Wednesday, all four Orange Coast League teams share first place with 0-0-1 league records. Since the league is only four teams, they play each other three times each.

Gleason said Calvary Chapel’s toughness provided Estancia a good lesson for the next time they play, scheduled for Jan. 23 at Orange Coast College.

“We wanted to win today, and keep that momentum through league,” Gleason said. “That team’s thinking the same thing we’re thinking right now, and they’ll come back just as hard.”

Crenshaw said he expects similar games from here on out.

“Costa Mesa’s still tough, and Laguna Beach is decent,” Crenshaw said. “We played them last year, and it was a war. I expect it to be again. It’s going to be fun.”