Girls soccer: Mustangs cruise past Eagles, 9-1

Steve Virgen

COSTA MESA - Costa Mesa High’s start appeared to be too much for

the Estancia girls soccer team.

Mustangs Sharon Day and Lisa Dunn were also more than the host Eagles

could handle in the Pacific Coast League opener Tuesday.

Day scored a hat trick and Dunn kicked two goals as Mesa eased past

Estancia, 9-1, and outshot the Eagles, 26-1.

The Mustangs (7-2-2) made the most of their opportunities in the first

half and built a 6-0 lead as Mesa did not allow the Eagles a shot.

“We wanted to come out and get the job done right off the bat,”

Mustangs Coach Dan Johnston said. “We had to come out and be workmanlike

today to prepare for (University on Thursday).”

Mesa’s passing and attacking offense kept Estancia from threatening.

Just 20 seconds into the game, Day sent a shot, but it was denied by

Eagles’ goalie Kathleen Sheafer who finished with 15 saves, 12 before

halftime.

In the fifth minute, Mustangs senior Fernanda Velasco stole the ball

and sent a pass to Day, who was ahead of the pack. Day scored on the

breakaway with a smooth kick into the goal.

Two minutes later, she was fouled near Estancia’s goal and she made

the penalty kick. Sheafer got a hand on it, but the shot was too hard.

Sheafer, however, made a habit out of making great saves in the first

half. When Mesa senior Robyn Weber went one-on-one with her, Sheafer

stepped up and caught the shot.

Before the game ended, Sheafer’s knees were covered with mud and her

head bandanna was wet from sweat.

“The girls know they didn’t put their effort in today,” Estancia

assistant coach Damien O’Brien said. “And, it’s all going to change.

(Coach Ray Smyth and I) just told them to be at practice (today), and

whoever is not there, we know they are not committed to this team. We

have had a few ups and downs with practices. We’re just not going to

stand for that anymore.”

After, Day’s penalty-kick goal, Emily Abbott scored off a rebound in

the 14th minute. Then, Velasco connected on a goal after receiving a nice

assist from Day in the 19th minute.

Six minutes later, Day scored her third goal as she sped out on a

counterattack and finished on a breakaway. She sat out the rest of the

half.

Mesa senior Katie Roche set herself up for a goal just before

halftime. She headed a ball toward Estancia’s goal at midfield, setting

up her own breakaway. She sent a shot, but Sheafer denied it and Roche

finished it off on the rebound.

The Mustangs began the second half attacking again and Dunn scored on

a breakaway. Two minutes later, Day left the game limping as she collided

with an Estancia player. She was not injured, however.

“Day was pestering me the whole time to get back in,” Johnston said

with a laugh.

After, Dunn’s goal, the Eagles were able to score. In the 52nd minute,

the Mustangs were called for a hand violation. Estancia junior Arlis

Reynolds connected on the subsequent penalty kick.

“We were upset that we gave up a goal on the penalty kick,” Johnston

said. “We pride ourselves on shutouts. We were sorry we missed that.”

Mesa scored twice after Reynolds’ goal. Dunn scored again when she

finished a cross from Chelsea Soria, who played goalie in the first half.

Mesa junior Natalie Masciale closed out the scoring when she converted

a breakaway in the 31st minute.