LAKE FOREST – The message from Orange Lutheran boys soccer coach T.J. Detviler was simple.
Play like you “ want it,” he told the Lancers.
Orange Lutheran is talented enough enough to have a winning season, but the only thing missing was the desire to succeed.
“We have been pushing that,” Detviler said, “and today they showed me that they do want it.”
Playing with only two substutes available on the bench, Orange Lutheran held off Edison’s experienced lineup, which includes 15 seniors, and advanced to the championship match of the Mustang Cup, beating the No. 4 Chargers, 2-0, the semifinals on Wednesday at Lake Forest Sports Park.
Eugene Van Der Watt and Freddy Hickman each scored in the second half for the Lancers (5-4-2).
Success has been rare for Orange Lutheran, having finished fifth or worse in the Trinity League standings in each of the past three season, but this triumph against one of the best teams in the county, Detviler said gives the Lancers the confidence to compete against No.2 Servite and No. 5 Santa Margarita during league.
“This is big for the progam and big for the boys. They have been working their butts off the last two years and they deserve this,” Detviler said. “It has been a a tough few years for us, but we have been trying to change the attitude and the culture. And we have a talented group of young men who are playing really well.
The Lancers, though, wouldn’t have made to Thursday’s championship match with Santiago without their senior goalkeeper Derrick Chan, who held the Chargers at bay until Van Der Watt netted the game winner in the 58th minute.
And the Chargers (10-2-0) tested Chan often. In the 20th minute Dom Bair sent a cross toward Jack Morrel at the far post, but Chan punched the ball away before Morrel could get his head on it.
The just five minutes into the second half Bair slipped past the Lancers’ back line and came into the box alone. Chan, though, made easy work of Bair’s shot, recording one of his five saves.
“We didn’t have the numbers that they had today, but they fought hard and had the heart,” Detviler said. “I am very happy with their effort and desire.”
In the So Cal High School Classic
Santa Margarita 6, El Camino Real 1: Ethan Kirby, Jacob Manese, Chad Messer, Juan Olivares, Connor Riley and Nick Tedesco each scored for the Eagles (8-2-2) in the Showcase-Coast pool play match at the SoCal Soccer Complex in Oceanside.
Servite 1, San Pasqual 0: Timothy Burke knocked in a pass from Wilbert Valle to lead the Friars (7-1-2) to victory in the Showcase-National pool play match at the SoCal Soccer Complex in Oceanside.
