Inspired Santa Ana Overwhelms Saddleback

The Santa Ana boys’ soccer team won the first round of its neighborhood battle with Saddleback in easy fashion Friday, defeating the third-ranked Roadrunners, 3-1, in a Golden West League game at Santa Ana High.

The fourth-ranked Saints spotted Saddleback (13-4-3, 1-1-1) a 1-0 lead, then scored twice before the half and once more five minutes into the second half. Santa Ana senior Hector Candelas, who scored the third goal when he tipped in a Carlos Nava blast that Saddleback goalkeeper Noe Arreola couldn’t smother, said his team was inspired.

“Our coach said, ‘Shoot, shoot, shoot,’ ” said Candelas, who scored his fourth goal in two games. “He told us to play like this was a CIF game and a league championship game.”

Saddleback Coach Mel Silva said his team took the game just as seriously, but something was lost in the translation.

“We were waiting so long for this game that I think we were too motivated,” Silva said. “We never waited for any of our plays to develop. We rushed everything. We tried to score three goals with one shot.”

Meanwhile, Santa Ana (9-3-4, 2-0-1) played with patience and confidence as it moved the ball downfield almost at will. The Saints tied it in the 25th minute when midfielder Nava knocked in a deflected corner kick. They scored again on midfielder Luis Diaz’s wicked drive from 20 yards that took Arreola by surprise.

Once Candelas scored to start the second half, Saddleback’s comeback hopes were shot.

“That was the best we’ve played all year,” Santa Ana Coach Manny Penaflor said. “Our passing was great, our forwards were making the runs into open space. Everything came to fruition.”