Katella’s Soccer Season Canceled After Brawl

The Katella High School boys’ soccer season has been canceled and its coach put on probation by Principal Barry Escoe because of a bench-clearing brawl during a match Wednesday against El Dorado.

Escoe said he decided Thursday to cancel the two remaining Empire League matches, giving Esperanza and Los Alamitos forfeit victories.

“Because we were at fault in starting the aggression and because our team as a whole got involved, I have canceled the remaining games,” Escoe said.

“The coach (Ken Meunier) was not involved in the altercation in any way, but we felt that he was responsible for the conduct of his team.”

Escoe said that he knew of no precedent for such action in the school’s 21-year history.

The melee began when a Katella player “hit or shoved” an El Dorado player after a foul had been called against Katella, Escoe said. Players from both teams rushed onto the field, officials from both schools said.

Three Katella players were ejected before officials suspended the match. El Dorado was leading, 1-0.

None of the players received injuries requiring medical attention, school officials said.

Stan Thomas, Southern Section commissioner, said he is awaiting a written report on the incident, and that Escoe’s action is not in conflict with the section’s policy.

“We have more problems with soccer than any other sport,” he said.

Soccer-related problems will be discussed at the next meeting of the Southern Section executive committee Feb. 19, Thomas said.

Soccer was placed on a one-year probation that ended in early 1985, after more than 100 reports of similar incidents.

Thomas said there has been only a slight increase in the number of incidents, but they have been more intense this season.

“If soccer doesn’t clean themselves up, they may be back on probation or they may not exist,” Thomas said.

Escoe said no further disciplinary action had been taken against any players, but added that the incident will be reviewed by the school’s athletic commission, which could decide to prohibit individuals from participating on school teams.

Al Hawkins, El Dorado principal, said no disciplinary action had been taken against any El Dorado players.

“As the story was related to me by the official, I had no cause for disciplinary action,” Hawkins said.

Katella was 1-8 in the Empire League and 5-11-2 overall before Wednesday’s match.

Escoe said he took action partly because of other incidents involving the soccer team earlier this season.

“There have been some other isolated incidents in the past,” Escoe said. “My feelings are that these are strong measures, but they are based on the deterioration of high school soccer conduct at Katella and in general. We are not very proud of this, but we are proud of taking a strong stand.”

Said Meunier: “I feel disappointed that we can’t compete. I honestly believed action needed to be taken. . . . My option would have been to finish the season.”