SOUTHERN SECTION BOYS’ SOCCER PLAYOFFS : Newport Harbor Blanks Bosco Tech

The Gatorade dousing was premature, but the Newport Harbor High School boys’ soccer team was in championship form Thursday in a 2-0 victory over Bosco Tech in a Southern Section 1-A first-round match.

Forward Tristan Levya scored both goals for Newport Harbor (18-4-5). Levya took a nice pass from Bryan Mallin to score with 23 minutes remaining in the first half. Levya scored again with 10 minutes remaining on a 20-foot shot into the right corner of the goal.

All of which delighted first-year Coach Mark Paine, until he was soaked with a bucket of Gatorade by team members on a brisk afternoon.

“I think we can win the 1-A,” Paine said. “The players have their confidence back after losing the league title to Saddleback. Still, we had eight quality chances to score, and we only scored twice.”

Newport Harbor failed in its bid for the Sea View League title when it lost to Saddleback, 1-0, in the second-to-last game of the regular season. Newport Harbor also was tied four times in four consecutive games during the season.

“We also beat seven teams ranked in the top 10 in their divisions, including four in the 4-A division, so I think this team can play with anybody,” Paine said.

Newport Harbor beat an outstanding goalie, Peter Prieto, who was named most valuable player of the Camino Real League. The 6-foot-4 junior had 13 saves Thursday.

In contrast, Josh Klein, Newport Harbor goalie, could have worked on his homework and still recorded a shutout. Bosco Tech rarely mounted an offensive attack and Klein made two saves.

In other 1-A games:

Saddleback 6, St. Anthony 0--Luis Guerrero scored three goals and Adrian Sevilla recorded his 11th shutout of the season for Saddleback (15-4-2). Guerrero has 18 goals.

Estancia 3, El Segundo 1--Visiting Estancia (11-8-3) took a 3-0 lead on goals by Sergio Suarez, Hector Espinoza and Jose Medrano. Garrett Quintance scored in the last minute of the game for El Segundo (16-3-2).

In Division 3-A:

Santa Ana 4, Compton 0--Gus Plasencia, Jose Ramirez, Johnny Guerrero and Hector Perez scored for host Santa Ana (15-3-6). Compton finishes 10-6-1.

El Toro 3, Paramount 0--Ali Akjol scored twice and Doug Barry once for host El Toro (11-3-2).

Dana Hills 4, Canyon 2--Knute Witthoff, a foreign exchange student from West Germany, scored the last three goals to lead visiting Dana Hills (12-4-4).