Oilers Begin Sunset League Play Firing on All Cylinders

Once they got past the bitterness, anger and shock of Coach Kevin Smith’s resignation, the Huntington Beach Oilers came alive.

Energized by new coach Will Cummins and the spirited play of senior forward Drew McAthy, the Oilers have recovered from a dismal showing in the Marina tournament to win their first three games in the Sunset League.

Smith resigned three weeks into the season after he admitted to being in violation of the Southern Section’s “association rule.” Parents of Sunset League players accused Smith of coaching his under-19 Wolfpack team during the school year, in violation of the rule.

Though the controversy surrounding Smith’s resignation probably won’t die down for some time, the Oilers have decided to move on.

“In the long run, it doesn’t really matter how it happened or who caused it to happen,” McAthy said of Smith’s departure. “We still have the same goal, to win league and CIF. If we win CIF, we’ll get our revenge anyway.”

McAthy, a senior co-captain along with senior defender Nick Solantri, seems to be getting his revenge now. In three Sunset League games, he has five goals, including a hat trick against eighth-ranked Esperanza and an overtime goal Friday in a 1-0 victory over Marina.

“More than anything, I think I’m realizing that this is my last time in league,” said McAthy, who has 12 goals and five assists. “I was getting my chances earlier, but I wasn’t finishing.”

The defense, led by Solantri and goalkeeper Shaun Roberts, have also done their share. The Oilers have allowed only one goal in league play.

The new playmaker is Gordon Kljestan, who Cummins has moved from sweeper to center midfield. Kljestan scored the game-winning goal in the league-opening victory over Edison and has assisted on another.

Kljestan’s move to the midfield is the only lineup change, but there are also subtle adjustments being made to the Oilers’ rough-and-tough style of play.

“I’m trying to get them to play a little bit nicer soccer, keep the ball on the ground a little more,” said Cummins, who also coaches the Huntington Beach girls’ team.

Cummins, who played last year with the A-League’s San Diego Flash and D3’s Riverside Elite, said his team will need to adjust its style of play to its competition.

“We’d probably be real successful in league playing a long-ball, physical style,” said Cummins, 25, who took over the team before the beginning of league play from interim coach John Clark. “But I don’t think that works in the playoffs.”

Last year, Huntington Beach finished the season ranked fourth in the county, but it didn’t qualify for the playoffs. This season, the fifth-ranked Oilers, 9-2-1 overall and 3-0 in league, heading into Monday’s game, have a chance to win their second Sunset League title in three years.

MORE McATHY

McAthy, a first-team Times’ Orange County selection last year, committed last week to UC Santa Barbara. McAthy joins his brother Aaron at UCSB.

Aaron, a redshirt sophomore, is the all-time leading scorer at Huntington Beach with 49 goals. Drew has 37.

If you have an item or idea for the boys’ soccer report, you can fax us at (714) 966-5663 or e-mail us at david.mckibben@latimes.com

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BOYS’ SOCCER TOP 10

Orange County Sportswriters’ Poll

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Pos. School (League) Rec 1. Dana Hills (South Coast) 15-1-3 2. Santa Margarita (Serra) 17-3-2 3. El Dorado (Empire) 15-1-2 4. Mater Dei (Serra) 18-2-3 5. Huntington Beach (Sunset) 9-2-1 6. Capistrano Valley (S. Coast) 14-3-5 7. Los Alamitos (Sunset) 12-1-4 8. Esperanza (Sunset) 9-2-4 9. Brea Olinda (Orange) 19-1-0 10. Woodbridge (Sea View) 13-4-3

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Others--Marina (10-4-4), Fountain Valley (7-3-5), Laguna Hills (8-3-6), Sonora (11-4-2), Estancia (6-2-3)