ANAHEIM – Throughout the season, Loara boys soccer coach Guillermo Montejano has told the Saxons that they had the talent to keep up with the best teams in CIF-SS Division 2, such as Golden West League rival Santa Ana, which was ranked No. 2 in the most recent Southern Section poll.
All the Saxons had to do was believe.
“I guess they do now,” Montejano said.
In the 30th minute on Wednesday, Armando Bahena headed in a corner from Ernesto Sanchez to help host Loara beat Santa Ana, 1-0.
It was the loss for the Saints in 10 Golden West League games, and Behena’s winning shot was only the fourth goal Santa Ana (16-4-1, 9-1) has given up in league.
“Hopefully, this victory will bring our confidence higher,” Montejano said.
The Saints could have put the game away early in the first half, coming within inches of scoring a pair of goals in the first 16 minutes of the game.
Hiploto Sosa threatened first for the Saxons (15-4-2, 8-2) when he collected a cross from Joseph Perez just outside the 6-yard box, but his shot grazed the outside of the far post as it sailed out of play.
Five minutes later, Perez took aim at the goal, curling a shot to the far post, which got caught in the swirling Santa Ana wind and just missed going in.
Having clinched the league championship last week, Santa Ana coach Joe Penaflor rested several starters in the season finale, including Oscar Navarro, who has scored 18 goals this season.
The Saints didn’t have many opportunities to score. Santa Ana’s best chances to cut into the Saxons’ lead came off free kicks outside of the box from Johnathan Ornelas and Josue Flores. The first shot got blocked by the wall and the second turned into a save for Jesus Mojica, the Saxon’s second-half keeper.
“I am looking at the bigger picture right now than just this game, and I am pretty happy,” Penaflor said. “I got some guys rested and ready to go for CIF.”
Contact the writer: ddottore@ocregister.com
