Eagles trump Mustangs again

COSTA MESA — Within the first five minutes Estancia High created a hole for Costa Mesa deeper than some of the mud puddles on the pitch.

Estancia struck twice to take a 2-0 lead over Costa Mesa before the rain could soak clear through everyone’s shin guards.

The Eagles scored three more times in the second half Wednesday, while Costa Mesa managed to avoid a shutout with a goal in the 65th minute, falling, 5-1, in the Orange Coast League game.

Estancia’s five goals was the highest offensive output for the team this season, topping a four-goal performance at Tustin Dec. 19.

“We’re the type of team that once we start scoring, one or two goals, we start getting hungry for the goal and the goals start coming,” fourth-year assistant coach Robert Castellanos said.

The absence of Eagles’ head coach Gannon Burks seemed to have little effect.

Burks was serving a one-game suspension after he was assessed a red card for arguing with an official when the Eagles lost to visiting Laguna Beach, 2-0, Friday.

It was the second meeting for the Orange Coast League rivals, who will play each other for the final time in league play at Costa Mesa Feb. 1. The Eagles (6-5-3, 3-1 in league) defeated the Mustangs, 2-1, in overtime Jan. 11.

“We were pretty mad that we had to wait until overtime last game to beat them,” Castellanos said. “So we really wanted to play a lot better than last time. And we lost on Friday, so we were pretty mad about that and we wanted to get back on track.”

Meanwhile, Costa Mesa Coach Eugene Day found himself wishing he could clone himself, or possibly create triplets.

“At least I would pass to myself,” Day said wryly.

Since the season began, Day has tried to improve the Mustangs’ passing game, using 30-by-30 drills and other practice techniques.

Thirty-by-30 drills involves putting players in a 90-square foot box (30 feet by 30 feet) and requiring them to pass to each other. Each player gets only two touches.

But the Mustangs’ on-field dissonance was palpable, even through the numbing rain.

“No passing,” Day lamented. “We just kick the ball. We’re giving 50-50 balls. That’s their attitude. It’s not skills, because they can pass the ball. Do you hear Estancia? ‘Hey, I’m over here! Hey, I’m over there.’ Do you hear us? Not at all. We have no camaraderie on the field at all.”

The Mustangs (1-10-1, 0-4-0) finally scored in the second half when sophomore forward Eric Ronquillo had the ball on the right side of the field, about 20 yards out.

“Cross! Croooooss,” Day shouted.

Ronquillo crossed to freshman forward Arturo Delgado, who bumped the ball in as Estancia goalkeeper Edgar Vega was running out for the stop.

Senior Eric Duarte scored two goals for the Eagles.

Estancia juniors Tony Flores, Danny Martinez, and Jose Garcia scored one goal each.

SORAYA NADIA McDONALD may be reached at (714) 966-4613 or at [email protected].