PLACENTIA – A chorus of honking horns greeted the El Dorado boys soccer team as it sprinted off the field on Friday, celebrating the Golden Hawks’ CIF-SS playoff triumph.
On a rainy, windy afternoon, a seat inside a warm, dry car was the best place for parents and friends to watch the Division 3 first-round match.
Playing in one of the worst storms to hit Orange County in years, El Dorado coach Steve McManus told the Golden Hawks to keep it simple, avoid making careless mistakes and to try to take advantage of the few opportunities that would arise in the miserable weather conditions.
The Golden Hawks listened well.
El Dorado took two shots and both ended up in the back of the net in a 2-0 victory against Santa Ynez, which extended the Golden Hawks’ unbeaten streak to 12 games.
El Dorado advances to the second round. It will face the winner of the Santa Fe of Santa Fe Springs-Channel Islands on Wednesday.
“In a game like this, it is the team that makes the least amount of mistakes that is going to win,” McManus said. “I have never played in conditions like this, not even when I was in England. We tried to prepare for this, but you can never prepare for this kind of wind.”
Tyler Johnson and Aaron Tebay scored El Dorado’s goals.
Johson converted a penalty kick in the 36th minute to put the Golden Hawks (14-7-5) up, 1-0, and Tebay’s 25-yard strike in the 50th minute set the final margin.
The Crestview League champion Golden Hawks might have netted a couple more goals had the field not been so slick.
Bryce Veronese slipped while standing in plenty of space inside the box. His shot trickled harmlessly into the keeper’s arms.
Conner Wiley couldn’t find solid footing when he took his shot in the 30th minute, which was easily tipped away for a corner kick.
El Dorado gave the Pirates (8-10-3) few opportunities, but Santa Ynez finally broke into the final third early in the second half. The Pirates’ shot was knocked away by Veronese just as it was getting ready to cross the goal line.
“I am proud of them,” McManus said, “but I will be prouder if we make it past the next round.”
Contact the writer: ddottore@scng.com
