Pena Takes a Dive to Save Mater Dei
Mater Dei goalkeeper Nate Pena called it the third best save of his career. Woodbridge Coach Jon Szczuka, whose season ended thanks to Pena’s sprawled-out effort in the mud, called it something else.
“It was unbelievable,” Szczuka said. “For the conditions, and what he was standing in before he took off, it was one of the best saves I’ve seen in years.”
Pena’s stop of Brandon Novoa’s left-footed blast in the 70th minute helped visiting Mater Dei to a 3-2 victory and a second consecutive trip to the Southern Section Division II boys’ soccer championship game.
Last year, the Monarchs (24-2-4) played Edison to a scoreless tie. This year, third-seeded Mater Dei will meet La Puente Nogales Saturday at Cerritos Gahr or La Mirada high.
Pena’s save was only his fourth of the game. His counterpart, Jason Del Valle, was much busier and almost as spectacular. Del Valle kept the Warriors within striking range by saving 11 of Mater Dei’s 20 shots.
“He was the difference for us this year,” Szczuka said.
The difference Tuesday was Mater Dei was simply smarter and more composed on a field that was part mud puddles and part slippery grass.
Early on, it looked like Woodbridge (20-5-4) was more prepared for the conditions. The Warriors took a 1-0 lead in the seventh minute when Eric Ebert half-volleyed a Roy Chingarian cross past Pena.
But after the first 15 minutes, Mater Dei took over. The Monarchs bombarded Del Valle with 10 shots in the first half, finally converting a minute before the half on a skidding shot by Brian Orue inside the far post. Orue took a crossing pass 12 yards out from Juan Gutierrez.
Mater Dei scored again in the first minute of the second half on a Matt Fennell chip after another Gutierrez cross. Eric Rolwing’s chip in of a Fennell corner made it 3-1 with 25 minutes left. Woodbridge freshman midfielder Peter Lawry tipped in a Brad Hallack cross in the 66th minute to make it 3-2, setting the stage for Pena’s big save.
“It was just reaction,” said Pena, who dived nearly halfway across the goal mouth and tipped Novoa’s shot off the post with his right hand. “I was on my toes, ready for the ball.”
Four minutes later, Novoa left-footed another shot at Pena. But this time, Pena didn’t need to dive.
In the other Division II semifinal game:
La Puente Nogales 3, El Dorado 2--The top-seeded Golden Hawks (23-2-3) saw their season end in a mud bath. Ryan Valdez scored on a penalty kick in the first half and Greg Reese scored late in the game for El Dorado.
El Dorado Coach Marc Smith said Nogales’ field was unplayable. “Every goal was a fluke,” he said. “No soccer was played in that whole game. Guys were running and falling without the ball. It was terrible.”
