Boys’ Soccer Dream Team: Pizarro loves to win

A couple of times, Kevin Pizarro tried to leave the Estancia High boys’ soccer team for good. Losing a player of his caliber can no doubt affect a program.

Rarely has Robert Castellano seen this, a player wanting to jump ship from Estancia, one of the top programs in the area. Castellano played for the Eagles for four seasons and he coached them for 17 seasons, the last seven as the head coach.

Each time Pizarro said his goodbyes to the Eagles, Castellano did nothing. Castellano’s attitude is if you don’t want to play for Estancia, then he doesn’t need you.

After his freshman year, Pizarro told his coach that he was transferring to Mater Dei. Then the first day of summer workouts, he asked Castellano if he could return to the Eagles, and he accepted him back.

The following season Pizarro contemplated dropping high school soccer for club soccer. Bringing him back to Estancia was the trip to the semifinals of the CIF Southern Section Division 5 playoffs Pizarro experienced as a sophomore.

There was a reason why Pizarro said he kept returning. He enjoyed a lot of success with the Eagles during his four years as a starter.

“They think about his goals and assists,” Castellano said, “but nobody has won more games than that kid under my watch.”

Pizarro led Estancia to 51 wins in four seasons. The Eagles went a resounding 51-23-21 during that stretch.

He might have rubbed opponents and even referees the wrong way with his competitive nature, but there’s no denying Pizarro was a winner. Pizarro capped off his stellar career as the Daily Pilot Newport-Mesa Dream Team Player of the Year in boys’ soccer.

Pizarro is a four-time Dream Team selection, a four-time first-team All-Orange Coast League selection, and a two-time Orange Coast League Offensive MVP.

When Pizarro showed up to Estancia as a freshman, he was 5-foot-4. His size never became an issue, his speed did.

Pizarro, who is now 5-7, probably had one of the shortest strides, yet he still beat defenses. Out of his four seasons, the Eagles asked him in his final one to create scoring opportunities for others.

Pizarro, a striker in his sophomore and junior years, played all over the field, on the wing, in the midfield, up top, and even in the back as a senior. His goals went down this season, scoring only twice, his lowest total during his time with the Eagles, but he finished with 10 assists, ranking him eighth in that category in Orange County.

The goal and assist numbers from this season were in reverse order from his junior season, when he recorded 10 goals and two assists.

For his career, Pizarro produced 30 goals and 27 assists. The stats are impressive, and Pizarro is glad he stayed at Estancia.

“My brother told me I was going to like high school,” said Pizarro, whose older brother, Chris, played at Estancia. “With Robert coaching, I fit in well.”

Castellano admired Pizarro because he was all about the team. The one accomplishment that eluded Pizarro was leading the Eagles to a league title.

The Eagles haven’t finish first in league since 2009-10. The closest they got was this season, placing second to powerhouse Godinez (9-0-1 in league), which won its fourth league championship in a row and claimed the school’s first CIF Southern Section title, winning it in Division 4. Estancia (13-6-4, 5-3-2 in league) advanced to the second round, losing at home in penalty kicks to South Torrance.

The Grizzlies have gone unbeaten in their last 37 league contests. The last team in league to knock off Godinez was Estancia, and Pizarro was a part of that match three years ago, scoring a goal in the 2-1 win on the road.

“The games I will never forget are the games against Godinez,” Pizarro said of the one team he didn’t win much against, going 1-5-2 against the Grizzlies. “That’s the only team I didn’t have any problems losing to because they were good.”

—

Below are the rest of the players on this year’s Dream Team:

Will Hunter

D | Corona del Mar

The senior center back anchored the Sea Kings’ Pacific Coast League championship run, as well as their 17-2-1 overall record during the regular season. Hunter, who added three goals and an assist, earned the Pacific Coast League Defensive MVP award.

—

Blake Munger

MF | Corona del Mar

The senior midfielder was the Sea Kings’ offensive weapon. Munger, a second-team All-Pacific Coast League member, produced 12 goals and seven assists. He scored 25 goals in his final two seasons. Munger is a two-time Dream Team selection.

—

Tony Hernandez

D | Estancia

The senior center back provided leadership for the Eagles, helping them to a runner-up finish in the robust Orange Coast League and the second round of the CIF Southern Section Division 4 playoffs. Hernandez received first-team All-Orange League honors.

—

Daniel Vargas

MF | Costa Mesa

The junior midfielder led the Mustangs to their first CIF Southern Section playoff appearance in five years. Vargas, a first-team All-Orange Coast League member, showed he could score and set up teammates, totaling nine goals and eight assists.

—

Will O’Connor

MF | Corona del Mar

The junior midfielder’s varsity debut with the Sea Kings turned out well. O’Connor, a first-team All-Pacific Coast League pick, tallied 10 goals and five assists, contributing to CdM’s return to the CIF Southern Section playoffs, a year after missing the postseason.

—

Marley Aragon

D | Newport Harbor

The senior defender played with intensity throughout a rebuilding year for the Sailors, hoping to change the program’s mentality. Aragon earned first-team All-Sunset League accolades for giving Newport Harbor security in the back and fighting for every ball.

—

Andy Ceja

MF | Estancia

The senior played central midfielder after doing all the Eagles’ dirty work as a defender the previous two seasons. Ceja, who recorded three goals and an assist, controlled the midfield. Ceja made the All-Orange Coast League first team.

—

Chase Munger

D | Sage Hill

The sophomore excelled in the back and up top for the Lightning. Munger earned All-Academy League first-team and All-CIF Southern Section Division 6 honors for guiding Sage Hill to second place in league and the second round of the playoffs.

—

Andy Martinez

F | Estancia

The sophomore forward transferred to the Eagles from Mater Dei and made a difference. The second-team All-Orange Coast League pick had six goals, including the game-winner in Estancia’s 1-0 win against Lawndale in the CIF Southern Section Division 4 first round.

—

Jeyson Calderon

D | Costa Mesa

The junior defender was a rock in the back for the Mustangs, who went 8-9-2 overall and 5-4-1 in the Orange Coast League, topping their win totals from the previous two combined seasons. Calderon made the Orange Coast League first team.

—

Jack Tomei

MF | Corona del Mar

The senior midfielder played a key role to the Sea Kings dropping only three of 21 matches. Tomei, who scored five goals and assisted on one, made the All-Pacific Coast League first team after CdM won its fourth league title in seven years.

—

Koen Ebbinga

GK | Corona del Mar

The senior goalkeeper held the Sea Kings’ opponents scoreless 11 times. Ebbinga blanked teams like Tesoro, a CIF Southern Section Division 2 quarterfinalist, and Beckman and Estancia, which advanced to the second round of the Division 3 and 4 playoffs, respectively.