Royal Wins Match but Loses 2 Players for Playoff Opener : Prep soccer: Morris and Santa Cruz are slapped with red cards in a penalty-marred 6-0 victory over Channel Islands.

Royal High striker Dan Morris is not one to lose his temper easily.

Nor is reserve teammate Joey Santa Cruz.

But because of red cards in a Marmonte League soccer match Thursday against Channel Islands, both players will miss the Highlanders’ first-round match when the Southern Section 4-A Division playoffs begin a week from today.

Eight penalty cards--four yellows and four reds--were issued in Royal’s physical 6-0 win at Rancho Simi Community Park.

Players who receive a red card are ejected and are suspended from their team’s next match.

Morris, Royal’s leading scorer, received a red card 10 minutes into the second half after being kicked by Channel Islands goalkeeper Juan Vargas during a nonscoring attack.

“I was walking away and he kicked me for no reason,” Morris said. “I kept my cool.”

So why did Morris get the red card?

“He probably said something he shouldn’t have said,” Royal Coach Peter Schraml said.

One minute after Morris’ ejection, Vargas was hit with a yellow card for flagrantly tripping Santa Cruz. Five minutes later, Santa Cruz was blatantly tripped by defender Frank Robles, who in turn received a red card.

Channel Islands forward Juan Robles was ejected for a tripping penalty at the 32-minute mark in the second half and Santa Cruz, a midfielder, took a red card with five minutes remaining for a foul Channel Islands couldn’t even reconcile.

“That last red card on that Royal kid was ridiculous,” Channel Islands Coach Ron Duncan said in defense of Santa Cruz.

Schraml received a yellow card in the second half after a minor skirmish between Channel Islands and Royal players broke out in front of the Raider goal.

Schraml yelled, “Get over there and do something!” to referee Arthur Szylewizc from the sideline.

Szylewizc visited the Royal sideline and issued a warning to Schraml, who responded: “I just don’t want any of my players to get hurt.”

“Then take them off the field,” Szylewizc replied as he walked away.

Royal (19-3-3, 11-2-1 in league play), ranked third in the 4-A behind league-champion Simi Valley and two-time defending division champion Palos Verdes, outshot the Raiders, 17-3, and took a commanding 3-0 lead after just 10 minutes.

Marco Todesco, who finished with two goals Thursday, started the Highlanders’ scoring barrage 30 seconds into the match when he took a slant pass from Dave Cessano and scored from seven yards. Morris scored on a penalty kick 19 minutes into the first half to give Royal a 4-0 advantage at halftime.

Striker Jody Reihl also had two goals, including a head shot off Jayson Quintanilla’s corner kick 17 minutes into the second half to account for the final score.

Channel Islands dropped to 11-8, 7-6 in league matches.