Eagles control play to continue upswing

Barry Faulkner

At this stage of the Estancia High girls soccer rebuilding

project, one and one equal -- too good to pass up.

So it was that the Eagles reveled in their 1-1 nonleague tie with

visiting Anaheim Monday, despite a handful of misbegotten second-half

scoring chances that were enough to make the Estancia faithful groan

with regret.

“A tie is not a loss,” first-year coach Nadine Rajabi said

cheerfully, after the Eagles’ record went to 2-5-4. “We’ve already

surpassed last year (when they were 3-19, including 0-10 in the

Pacific Coast League) and we’re getting better and better.”

Rajabi was greatly encouraged by the measure of her team’s

improvement from the first half to the second.

“Our second half today was the best half we’ve played all year,”

said Rajabi, who along with assistant Subrina Witt, a former youth

national team performer who played collegiately at San Diego State,

is credited by Estancia staff and parents with both stabilizing and

energizing the program.

“We finally started connecting (offensively),” said Rajabi, who

played at Cal Lutheran and Mater Dei High. “We’ve been having

problems putting things together this year.”

The Eagles put together several threats against the Colonists

(6-2-2), who are enjoying a turnaround of their own under first-year

coach Michelle Majewski. Anaheim, coming off a 1-14-2 campaign in 2001-02, extended its unbeaten streak to five games. But not without

some anxious moments.

Anaheim opened the scoring in the 15th minute, when the rebound

from Fanny Garza’s shot near the right post trickled to teammate

Maribel Vega, positioned directly in front of the open net. Vega

converted to up the Colonists’ scoring lead over opponents this year

to 20-8.

The half ended that way, though Estancia earned a 7-6 advantage in

shots before intermission, forcing Anaheim keeper Patty Jacinto to

make five of her six saves.

Estancia, like it had in the first 40 minutes, controlled play

most of the second half, as Maria Sanchez, Rachel McMasters, Elise

Carroll and Marina Abdul created or set up quality chances that were

also instigated by Ruth Chavero and Karleen Curren.

Sanchez, a senior, produced the equalizer in the 58th minute,

finishing a strong run by Abdul, a freshman, who sprinted past the

defense and dribbled in toward the goalie who came out to meet the

play. A sliding Jacinto failed to secure the ball and Abdul regained

possession, then passed in front. Sanchez, standing all alone,

flipped the ball in to tie the game.

Estancia continued to mount the attack. Carroll, making a run in

the 63rd minute, managed to direct the ball around the charging

Jacinto and continue in as a defender retreated near the right post.

But the hurried shot hit the side of the net.

A through ball by Chavero set up Abdul in front, but her

right-footed crossing attempt rolled just wide of the left goal post.

Amanda Abbott, Melissa Willey, Dustina Lau and Alaina Sweeney

joined sweeper Chavero and sophomore goalie Paula Arona (three saves)

in helping the defense maintain the deadlock, while Erika Plietez and

Sandra Lopez also contributed for the hosts.

Lau left the game early with a right knee injury.

The Eagles, competing in the Golden West League this season, won

their first league game in three years with a Jan. 7 triumph over

Westminster. They return to league play today at Santa Ana, before

visiting crosstown rival Costa Mesa Thursday at 5 p.m. at the Farm

Sports Complex.

Rajabi said another factor in the Eagles’ improved play Monday was

better fitness.

“You guys have the skill,” she told her players in the postgame

address. “And the conditioning is coming. I think those laps (in

practice) are making a difference.

“This (nonleague game) could have boosted our confidence, or it

could have hurt our confidence,” Rajabi said. “But I think we made

some progress.”