Girls’ Soccer: Eagles fall in PKs
The vast majority of the Estancia High girls’ soccer team will be back next year, and the Eagles will surely remember how they felt Tuesday night and use that as motivation.
Another successful season ended quickly, with a lengthy run in the CIF Southern Section playoffs averted.
Last year, the Eagles lost at Ontario Colony High, 3-2, on a “golden goal” in the second round of the Division 5 playoffs.
Different opponent this year, Oxnard Pacifica. And a different venue, Jim Scott Stadium. But the round was the same.
This time it was a penalty-kick shootout that did Estancia in as it fell to Pacifica, 1-1 (5-4), to end its season. Estancia still has not advanced to the CIF quarterfinals since 1993.
“It’s tough,” Estancia Coach Josh Juarez said. “They wanted to get past that second round. I think they understand that they overcame a lot this year ... Nobody likes to lose in PKs. If you’re going to lose in the flow of the game, you lose in the flow of the game, but nobody wants to leave on PKs.”
Pacifica junior goalie Liz Cruz-Martinez made two saves in the shootout. The second one came in the sixth round with the score tied at 4-4. Cruz-Martinez deflected the shot over the cage, allowing Pacifica’s Justine Reyes to score the winning shootout goal and advance the Tritons to the quarterfinals.
Pacifica will play host to top-seeded Sierra Canyon in the quarterfinals on Thursday. That was news to Cruz-Martinez after the game.
“We’re in the quarterfinals?” she said. “Oh my God! You’re lying! It feels great ... We usually lose in PKs in club [with the Oxnard Wave]. It feels good to finally win.”
Pacifica (11-6-5), the second-place team from the Pacific View League, shocked Estancia (14-6-4) early in Tuesday’s game after junior forward Audrey Castillo scored in the third minute. Castillo gained control near the top of the box and shot it into the right corner. Estancia’s first-half goalie Annie Mitchell (three saves), diving to her left, was able to deflect it but not prevent the goal.
“It was nice to get that little monkey off our back at the beginning, versus you’re working, working, working and that little frustration can build up sometimes,” Pacifica Coach Rachael Carver said.
Estancia answered in the 27th minute, on junior co-captain Katarina Freiberger’s strike from the right side of the box.
Scoring chances were less in the second half and overtime. The Estancia defense of second-half goalie Monique Mendoza (three saves), as well as senior co-captain Brandi White, Sammie Haynes, Lexina McDowell and Elizabeth Esquivel, tightened up.
The Eagles did have a chance to end it in the second 10-minute overtime period. A shot from the right was deflected out by Cruz-Martinez. But an Estancia strike from directly in front of the cage sailed over, and the game would move on to penalty kicks.
“They’re one of the better offensive teams we played this year,” Juarez said. “I think it took us a good 25 minutes to kind of adjust to playing against that offense. As we adjusted and got the hang of it, I thought we started to play a lot better. We definitely created a lot of chances ... we just weren’t able to put that game-winner away.”
The Eagles shot first in the shootout and Tabytha Smith, Emily Rodriguez and McDowell were able to convert. So did Sienna Magdaleno, Castillo and Anna Escobar for Pacifica, tying it at 3-3.
Cruz-Martinez came up with a block in the fourth round for the visitors, but Pacifica’s shot sailed over the cage. Estancia’s White scored in the fifth round, and so did Priscilla Lopez for Pacifica, making it 4-4.
But Cruz-Martinez was there again to make the block and help her team move on.
“She definitely comes up with some huge saves every big game we have,” said Carver, adding that it was the Tritons’ first CIF quarterfinal appearance in Division 5 after making the Division 6 title match two years ago.
The Eagles shed plenty of tears but Juarez said the team had a lot to be proud of, including its second straight Orange Coast League championship. Rodriguez and White were the only two seniors on the team.
“For me, this being my first year, I’m happy with what we did this year,” Juarez said. “I’m happy with the effort the girls gave every day, and I’m proud to be a part of this program.”
