CORONA – Anaheim boys soccer coach Joe Chavez said a CIF-SS championship wasn’t out of the question for his team before the season started, but it wasn’t in the discussion.
This year’s Colonists will be a team that will be discussed at the school for quite awhile.
Anaheim took advantage of every opportunity on offense and played a stingy brand of defense to claim the school’s first undisputed CIF-SS championship with a 2-0 victory against Orange League foe Century in the Division 3 title game at Corona High on Friday.
“For the sake of kids that don’t see the opportunity to get in the playoffs that often, it is the rare occasion. We tried to make the most of it,” Chavez said. “These kids, especially, they worked hard and are very deserving. I think the game proved it.”
The game played out like a contest between two teams meeting for a third time. Scoring opportunities were hard to come by, especially for the Colonists (14-6-7) in the first half.
Twenty minutes into the second half, senior Elliot Carillo received a pass and struck it past Centurions goalkeeper Edwin Minero.
“I didn’t believe it (when I scored), it was amazing,” Carillo said. “I can’t even believe it yet.”
Up to that point, Century (23-7-3) had far more offensive chances. A shot by Brian Orozco hit off the post in the first half and Anaheim goalie Raul Martinez made some great saves to keep the game scoreless.
The Centurions had the star power coming into the game with Amirgy Pineda and his cousin, Ronaldo Pineda, but for the most part, Anaheim did an outstanding job of neutralizing the duo.
With two minutes remaining, Amirgy was getting ready to receive a cross from a teammate, and had good position to get a shot behind goalie Luis Espindola, who was in net in the second half for the Colonists.
Pineda slipped and fell on the play, though, and Century’s title aspirations slipped away with him.
Anaheim raced down field with the ball, which eventually ended up at the feet of Alexis Supancic, who scored to seal the championship for his team.
“We had our chances, we hit the post three times,” Centurions coach Bruce Silverman said. “I mean, I have to believe we outshot them, five to one. … They took advantage of the few shots they had, and that’s what it takes.”
The Colonists went 2-0-1 in their three meetings with Century.
“People were doubting us since preseason, people didn’t believe in us, they didn’t go to our games,” Carillo said. “But look at us, everyone is here showing up, and it’s unbelievable winning this championship.”
Contact the writer: amorales@ocregister.com
