Eagles’ first league loss their worst

LAGUNA BEACH — It didn’t budge Estancia High from its post at the top of the Orange Coast League standings, but Tuesday night’s 5-0 loss to Laguna Beach was unsettling all the same.

It was the Eagles’ first league loss of the season.

Considering that the two teams tied, 1-1, Jan. 17, the Eagles’ performance was a significant departure from their usual style.

It was their worst loss of the season. The last time the Estancia girls (9-7-2, 3-1-2 in league) relinquished more than two goals was a 4-1 loss Dec. 2 to Newport Harbor.

Coach Steve Crenshaw said injuries were to blame.

Starting sophomore midfielder Nushin Tasbichi was out, and reserves Katy Mendez and Daisy Martinez didn’t play, either. Neither senior forward Taylor West nor freshman midfielder Erin O’Neil were 100%, Crenshaw said, and freshman forward Jackie Freiberger’s play was limited as well.

“We need to be healthy, but it’s more than that,” Crenshaw said. “That’s not the reason we lost this game.”

The Breakers led 3-0 at the break, and scored two more goals in the second half.

“The bottom line is they were pumped up and ready to play and we weren’t,” Crenshaw said. “We were simply not executing.”

Seniors Claire Rubel and Laura Renault connected for two second-half goals to lead the Hawks.

Senior forward Nikki Clark scored an unassisted goal in the tenth minute, followed by senior forward Courtney Capobianco who scored another unassisted goal in the 28th. Senior forward Jackie Csira scored on a pass from Clark in the 31st minute.

Estancia came close to scoring, shooting a ball that bounced off the top of the goalpost in the middle of the second half. But the Eagles couldn’t push the ball the couple of feet it would have taken for a score.

The Eagles have three games left in the regular season against Costa Mesa (Thursday), Calvary Chapel (Tuesday) and Laguna Beach (Feb. 7). With three league wins, Estancia has at least a one-win buffer over everyone else. Costa Mesa and Laguna Beach (8-7-5, 2-2-2 in league) have two wins each. If the Eagles win the league title, it would be their first since the 1992-93 season.

SORAYA NADIA McDONALD may be reached at (714) 966-4613 or at soraya.mcdonald@latimes.com. SORAYA NADIA McDONALD may be reached at (714) 966-4613 or at soraya.mcdonald@latimes.com.