As Edison celebrated a 2-0 CIF-SS Division 1 victory on Wednesday night, the second-guessing began for Mission Viejo coach Roger Castle.
When Michael Oakson was playing center back for the host Diablos (10-8-5), the Chargers (22-4-1) had a difficult time building momentum in the final third. He was winning everything in the air, and that, combined with some early-game jitters, had Edison “out of sorts,” according to Coach Charlie Breneman.
But then Castle moved Oakson to midfield in the second half. That changed everything.
“We looked defensively vulnerable. He is a big influence,” Castle said. “That was the swing of the game. They had the better part of the game in the second half.”
The Chargers began to make their move in the 48th minute. That’s when Dom Bair sprinted past the Diablos’ back line and advanced into the box alone. It took a last-second, one-handed diving save from Ian Rose to knock the ball wide of the far post.
In the 56th minute, Bair took aim at the Diablos again. Only this time, no one could stop the cross that he sent to the far side of the 6-yard box where Sam Kemper was waiting to knock in the winner.
“That is what Dom does. He gets down to that end line, and Sam was in a good spot,” Breneman said. “I’d put money for Sam to score in those positions.”
Zac Ingalls scored the final goal in the 71st minute after Jack Morrel flicked a long throw from Brian Piscopo. It was a play that appeared to come right out of the Diablos’ game plan.
Mission Viejo made good use of the long throw, too, and came close to scoring in the 12th minute when Oakson headed a long throw from Juan Sebastien Olivares, but JJ Valezquez was guarding the post for the Chargers.
This is the second time in three years the Chargers have advanced to the quarterfinals. They will play Redlands East Valley, which is ranked No. 9 in the nation by Maxpreps on Saturday.
“I like our draw. I am not too scared about it (the quarterfinal match),” Breneman said. “I think our guys will be up for it.”
Also in Division 1:
El Toro 1, Cathedral of Los Angeles 1 (El Toro wins on PKs, 4-3): Matt Freem knocked in a pass from Nathan Morgan in the first half, and Mac Hutchins stopped the Phantoms’ third penalty kick as the host Chargers (11-10-2) eliminated the No. 1 seed. Edison will play at Tesoro on Saturday.
In Division 2:
Valencia 3, Laguna Hills 2 (OT): Mario Luna, Noah Engstrom and John Dauphin each scored for the host Tigers (24-4-0).
Corona del Mar 2, Moorpark 1: The Sea Kings received goals from Jon Wirta, off an assist by Brandon Cargile, and Grant Joyce (penalty kick) to advance to the quarterfinals.
In Division 3:
Saddleback 2, Claremont 0: Armando Gaytan finished with a goal and an assist for the host Roadrunners (13-5-9), who will play Valencia of Valencia in the quarterfinals.
Contact the writer: ddottore@scng.com
