Overtime Goal Sends Capistrano Valley's Boys to Soccer Semifinals

Capistrano Valley’s boys soccer team may need to come up with a new nickname for Felix Espinoza. It could be “Dinero,” (Money). Or possibly “Hèroe” (Hero). Or even “Niño de Gol de Oro” (Golden Goal Boy).

Whatever the nickname, Espinoza has been “Johnny on the Spot” lately for the Cougars. For the second time in the playoffs, Espinoza scored the game-winning goal, the most recent coming with about six minutes remaining in overtime to give the Cougars a 2-1 victory over Arlington in a CIF Southern Section Division 2 quarterfinal Friday afternoon at Capistrano Valley High.

The Cougars (15-5-9) advance to the semifinals on Tuesday, when they will play host to La Habra, a 1-0 winner over Canyon Springs in another quarterfinal, at a site to be determined.

Arlington, the Inland Valley League champion, finished the season at 15-4-4.

In a first-round game of the playoffs, Espinoza’s goal defeated Damian, 2-1. Against the Lions, he wasn’t expected to play because of a muscle injury, but Cougars coach Jason Sorrell decided to play him and Espinoza finished with five shots on goal, including four headers.

In overtime, Mario Soto was fouled while going down the sideline just outside the box. Luis Vasquez took the direct kick and placed in perfectly in front of the Lions goal when Espinoza darted in from the left side and headed the ball past goalkeeper Ivan Hernandez for the Golden Goal and a ticket to the semifinals.

“I just tried to get the rhythm of [the kick] and it went in,” Espinoza said. “I just wanted to get in and play anytime I could. It feels awesome to score another goal [in the playoffs].”

Capistrano Valley dominated play throughout the first half, outshooting Arlington 11-5 and putting six shots on goal. The Cougars finally took the lead in the 21st minute when the goalkeeper Hernandez’s direct kick glanced off his own defender and landed in front of Soto, who was wide open at the 30 yard line. Soto then drilled a shot dead-center into the top of the net.

“We haven’t had a break all year, but in the playoffs we’ve been getting some,” Sorrell said.

Entering the match, Arlington had won its last eight games, all by shutouts, and had outscored the opposition 11-0, during the stretch. However, the Lions had to play without their leading scorer, Eduardo Morales (17 goals), who received a red card against El Modena in the last game and could not play.

Still, Arlington managed to tie the score with 15 seconds left before halftime when Fausto Rodriguez headed a ball past Cougars goalkeeper Teddy Czaja.

“That goal was a bad goal,” Sorrell said. “It came off our [player’s] head and they knocked it in. We dominated the first half, but that gave them life.”

Both teams had several scoring opportunities in the second half but Hernandez made five saves for Arlington (11 total) and Matt Bermudez had four saves for Capistrano Valley. (Czaja in the first half and Bermudez in the second half combined for seven saves.). Soto finished with four shots on goal.