Estancia fails to hold 1-0 lead

TORRANCE — Estancia High lost for only the second time this season. It cost the Eagles their boys’ soccer season.

North Torrance came from behind to beat No. 4-seeded Estancia, 3-1, in the quarterfinals of the CIF Southern Section Division IV playoffs Friday.

Senior Rony Argueta gave Estancia (15-2-7) a 1-0 lead in the 24th minute. Argueta took a rebound off the post and shot it from just outside the 18-yard box to record the goal.

Coach Gannon Burks said Estancia lost center midfielder Danny Martinez to a pulled groin right before going into halftime up, 1-0.

“We came out a little flat,” Burks said of the start of the second half. “They scored right away.”

North Torrance built a 2-1 lead and never looked back.

“I’ve very proud of these boys,” said Burks, who led the Eagles to the quarterfinals for the first time in his six years as coach and also their third straight Orange Coast League title. “Still the best team I ever coached.”

— From staff reports