Dana Hills Misfires, Ties Mission Viejo

It was a game of missed opportunities in what is becoming a season of missed opportunities for the Dana Hills boys’ soccer team. The visiting Dolphins missed an open-net shot and several more from close range in Wednesday’s scoreless tie with first-place Mission Viejo.

“This is how we’ve played all year,” Dana Hills Coach Dennis Korinke said. “We’ve been there so many times before that it’s not even frustrating after awhile.”

The Dolphins (8-8-3, 3-2-1), who have given up only three goals in league play, could have moved within a point of Mission Viejo (6-6-2, 4-0-2) in the South Coast League had they converted one of their scoring chances.

Their best chance came early in the second half when Stephen Jennings, a junior forward, took a crossing pass in stride seven yards in front of the Mission Viejo goal. But Jennings could not control the pass and his left-footed shot rolled just wide of the left post.

“We had the keeper [Jeff Taylor] out, but I guess it was a tough shot,” Korinke said. “Last year we scored on all those kind of chances. But we don’t have a true forward on this team and that makes it hard.”

Mission Viejo Coach Greg Naber admitted his team was outplayed most of the way.

“We were fortunate to come out of this with a tie,” Naber said. “But I credit my keeper and my defense. If I were their coach, I’d be in a little more pain than me.”

Mission Viejo has endured some pain of its own lately. The Diablos have not qualified for the playoffs in seven years and haven’t won a league title in 10 years.

“We haven’t been in this position in a long time, so I think we probably were a little overconfident,” said Naber, whose starting center midfielder, Brandon Moses, missed the game because of a red card. “Dana Hills wanted it more than us.”

Nevertheless, the Dolphins refused to take it.