SOUTHERN SECTION BOYS’ SOCCER ROUNDUP : Marina Defeats Fontana, Advances to Second Round

What a difference a year can make.

This time last season, Marina was storing its soccer gear after missing the playoffs for only the second time in nine years. Meanwhile, Fontana was stringing together victories en route to a Southern Section boys’ title.

Friday, it was Fontana’s turn to pack up early as fourth-seeded Marina scored three first-half goals and defeated the Steelers, 4-1, in a Division I first-round game at Marina High.

The Vikings (16-5-1) advance to play Claremont, the Baseline League second-place team, in Thursday’s quarterfinals.

“The first playoff game is the hardest because of the nerves,” Viking Coach David McLeish said.

Marina looked relaxed, taking a 1-0 lead in the opening minute when Joe Borzoni beat Fontana goalkeeper Omar Hernandez to his left.

The Vikings added to their lead 15 minutes later, when Borzoni’s cross pass skipped past Jose Monroy, his intended target, but was knocked in by a hustling Jason Benwell.

Benwell scored again in the first half when he used his knee to direct a cross pass into the net and Marina led comfortably, 3-0, at halftime.

Monroy, the Vikings’ leading scorer, scored the fourth goal when he made a pair of fancy moves around two Steeler defenders and hit the corner of the net with a shot off his left foot.

Fontana finished 15-7-5.