PREP ROUNDUP : Estancia, Laguna Hills Tie in Boys’ Soccer

Estancia and Laguna Hills’ boys’ soccer teams began the day tied for first place in the Pacific Coast League, and after Friday afternoon’s showdown at Laguna Hills High School, nothing changed as the teams battled to a 1-1 tie.

Laguna Hills’ goal, which came two minutes into the second half, was controversial and also unusual.

After Laguna Hills (11-5-5, 4-0-4 in league) had chipped the ball five yards in front of Estancia’s net, officials whistled Estancia sweeper Juan Cervantes for an obstruction foul inside the goalie box, awarding Laguna Hills an indirect free kick from the top of the goalie box.

“That’s the first time I’ve seen a call like that this year,” Laguna Hills Coach Scott Johnson said, “Normally, the goalie and the defense will get that call.”

Estancia Coach Dave McKiernan aligned a seven-man wall at the goal line to protect the right half of the goal, leaving the left half for goalie Carlos Rodriguez to defend.

Rodriguez stopped Laguna Hills’ Julio Montes’ initial shot, but in a scramble for the rebound, Laguna Hills’ Brian Beaman knocked the ball past all eight Estancia defenders for the goal.

Estancia (9-4-6, 4-0-4) came back to tie the score after Sergio Suarez drew a foul just outside the penalty area on the left wing.

“I didn’t see much contact on that foul,” Johnson said. “But that’s how soccer goes and the officials were doing their best.”

Carlos Alcazar took the free kick for Estancia and beat goalie Kirk Brown and Laguna Hills’ three-man wall with a shot into the upper left corner of the net.