Estancia Fashions Perfect Finish to Near-Perfect Season

Esaul Mendoza scored three dazzling goals to help Estancia to a 5-2 victory over Torrance Bishop Montgomery in the Southern Section Division IV boys’ soccer championship game at La Mirada High Saturday.

In the 34th minute, Mendoza curved a corner kick just inside the right goal post for his first score. The goal capped a 10-minute barrage for Estancia (20-1-1), which took a 3-0 lead. It looked as if it was going to be another blowout for a team that had outscored its playoff opponents, 24-5, coming into the final.

But the second-seeded Eagles almost saw their lead slip away after midfielder Jorge Lopez received a red card in first-half injury time. On the ensuing direct kick, Bishop Montgomery’s Michael Jimenez charged in from the left side and headed the ball into the goal.

One minute into the second half, the top-seeded Knights (21-3-3) cut Estancia’s lead to one when Jonrobert Lang knocked in a soft pass from Paul Leach.

Bishop Montgomery, which brought a 21-game unbeaten streak into the final, had a one-man advantage for 40 minutes. But Mendoza deflated the Knights with a 30-yard goal in the 56th minute that made the score 4-2. Eight minutes later, he scored again off a cross from Luis Rivera to clinch the title for Estancia.

“I was really pumped up,” Mendoza said. “I couldn’t let my team down.”

Said Estancia Coach Steve Crenshaw: “Our guys knew they could do this. They knew they were the better team on the field.”

Mendoza had 12 goals in the playoffs and 46 this season.

John Alderete scored Estancia’s first goal and Cesar Terrones got the second one.