Dana Hills a Giant Killer Again

For the second time in two days and the third time in less than three weeks, the Dana Hills boys’ soccer team knocked off a No. 1 team.

The victim Friday was Long Beach Millikan, the top-ranked team in the Southern Section Division I poll. The Dolphins ambushed Millikan with two early goals and cruised to a 3-0 victory in the final of the Marina tournament.

On Thursday, Dana Hills (12-1-2) upset Mater Dei, 1-0, in a quarterfinal. The Monarchs were ranked No. 1 in Orange County and had been undefeated.

On Dec. 11, Dana Hills surprised Woodbridge, 4-1. At that time, Woodbridge was the county’s top-ranked team.

“We have a thing for defeating No. 1 teams,” said forward Forrest Smith, who scored all three Dana Hills goals Friday, giving him 14 this season. “Nobody really expects much from us. But after beating Woodbridge and Mater Dei, we believed we could beat Millikan.”

How many more No. 1 teams can Dana Hills topple? Maybe none. The Dolphins entered the week ranked eighth in the county. But after what they accomplished this week, they might be the county’s new No. 1.

Dana Hills Coach Dennis Korinke isn’t sure he wants that much recognition.

“We don’t mind not being higher in the polls,” Korinke said. “We’re just concerned about where we are at the end. Being No. 1 puts a target on you.”

Smith was on target early in Friday’s final, finding the net twice in the first 14 minutes. His first goal came in the seventh minute when he blasted Steve Barnes’ bouncing cross toward the goal and off a Millikan defender. Millikan goalkeeper Jose Barragan, who had allowed only three goals in his last 22 games, couldn’t get a hand on the deflected shot.

Smith struck again seven minutes later, tipping in a rebounded shot from midfielder Nick Garton. Smith collected his hat trick when he headed Tyler Kastorff’s cross past Barragan in the 62nd minute.

Lance Friesz recorded his seventh shutout of the season. The victory gave Dana Hills its first tournament title in 15 years.

Millikan (13-1-2) lost for the first time this season.

“I think all the games and all the tournaments caught up to us,” Millikan Coach Rod Petkovic said. “It took a toll on our bodies. But Dana Hills was just as worn down. They’re a great team.”

Petkovic said Dana Hills capitalized on his team’s weakness.

“We had a lot of people out on our right side and that’s where they scored all of their goals,” Petkovic said. “They’re a smart team.”

In the fifth-place game:

No. 1 Mater Dei 3, Cypress 0--Eric Rolwing, Ruben Rosales and Juan Gutierrez scored for the Monarchs (17-1-1). Cypress is 10-2-1.

In the championship game at the Trabuco Hills tournament:

La Verne Bonita 1, Santa Margarita 0--Bonita’s Travis Page, who was named the tournament MVP, scored on a header in the 72nd minute for the game-winner.

Santa Margarita, ranked fourth in Orange County, had a chance to tie the score in the 78th minute, but a handball was called against the Eagles (14-2-2) in the goal box.

Page’s goal was only the sixth of the season given up by Santa Margarita goalkeeper Erick Foss, who made 12 saves.

The game was a rematch of last year’s Southern Section Division III final, won by Santa Margarita, 4-0.

In the third-place game:

No. 2 Woodbridge 3, No. 6 Capistrano Valley 1--Capistrano Valley’s Freddy Riviera scored in the 70th minute to make the score 2-1, but Woodbridge’s Eric Ebert scored two minutes later to clinch it for the Warriors (11-2-2).

Roy Chingarian and Pieter Berger scored first-half goals for Woodbridge. Capistrano Valley is 13-2-3.

In a consolation game:

El Toro 2, No. 10 Edison 1--Dennis Giakos scored in the last five minutes to break a 1-1 tie and give El Toro (6-5-1) the victory for fifth place.