PREP SOCCER PLAYOFFS : Plasencia Scores Three Goals as Santa Ana Beats Don Lugo

Gustavo Plasencia, a senior forward, scored three goals Friday as Santa Ana defeated Don Lugo, 3-1, in the first round of the Southern Section 4-A boys’ soccer playoffs at Santa Ana Stadium.

Plasencia’s first score, a header off Ricardo Arroyo’s free kick from the right sideline 45 yards away after four minutes, gave Santa Ana a 1-0 lead.

Santa Ana (17-6-3) led, 2-0, six minutes later on Plasencia’s kick past Don Lugo goalkeeper Jeff Costa from 10 yards.

Don Lugo (14-5-5) closed the gap to 2-1 with 26 minutes left in the first half when Sean Norwood broke loose down the left sideline and passed to Pat Erickson for the score.

Plasencia scored his third goal with a header off a precision pass by Jose Luis Ramirez with three minutes left in the half.

Plasencia has scored 21 goals in 17 games.