Calabasas Doesn’t Leave It to Chance

Chances are, the Rio Mesa High boys’ soccer team will look back at Saturday’s championship match of the Calabasas tournament as The One That Got Away.

Leading, 1-0, midway through the first half, the Spartans surrendered three goals in seven minutes and were upset by Calabasas, 3-1.

The Spartans (14-2-5), Channel League champions and a Southern Section Division I team, suffered their first loss in 19 matches. Calabasas, a Frontier League co-champion and a Division III team, improved to 15-3-2.

The title match at Calabasas High was scheduled for Dec. 14, but rain and scheduling difficulties pushed it back two months.

Rio Mesa’s Adam Reeves scored in the seventh minute, quickly booting a free kick into the net as the Coyotes vainly scrambled to form a wall of defenders.

Calabasas tied the match in the 25th minute on a 10-yard shot by John Eisz.

Four minutes later, Spartan defender Steve Gonzalez overran a ball and Coyote Nick Forland scored from 25 yards. In the 32nd minute, goalkeeper Christian Zuniga misplayed a throw-in and Eisz headed in the ball.

Rio Mesa’s Jaime Ambriz, who entered the match with 21 goals, was effectively shadowed by Jamey Krauss. Nonetheless, Rio Mesa outshot Calabasas, 21-7, including 14-3 in the second half.