Valencia more lucky than good in NOCC semifinal

Valencia junior goal keeper stops a Newport Harbor penalty shot in on Monday during a North Orange County Championship semifinal match.
Newport Harbor goal keeper Devon Patterson punches away a free kick in the first half during a North Orange County Championship semifinal match.
Newport Harbor senior defender Cristian Merida heads a throw in during a North Orange County Championship semifinal match.
Newport Harbor defender Cristian Merida, left, and Valencia midfielder Michael Antonio battle for possession during a North Orange County Championship semifinal match.
Valencia sophomore Victor Ortiz tries to flick the ball over Newport Harbor's Brandon Varela during a North Orange County Championship semifinal match.

By Damian Dottore | ddottore@scng.com | Orange County Register

December 22, 2014 at 10:41 p.m.

PLACENTIA – Valencia couldn’t hold its defensive shape, was slow to the ball and lacked any movement in the midfield. Coach Barry Gardner needed only one word to describe the Tigers’ performance in the first half of Monday’s North Orange County Championship semifinal.

“Terrible,” he said. “We got lucky today.”

And for the sixth season in a row, Valencia will play for the tournament championship, edging Newport Harbor on penalty kick, 4-3, after the teams played to a scoreless tie. Brandon Zirkle, Angel Rangel, Brayan Montiel and Alexis Martin Del Campo converted their penalty chances for Valencia.

Because of injuries and family vacations, Gardner had to use two new defenders, midfielders forwards during the game, which is why the host Tigers (6-1-3) were so unorganized in the early going. And the Sailors (4-2-2) almost took the lead in the first miute as a result.

But AJ Arcilla batted David Bernal’s shot just over the crossbar to record one of his three first-half saves for Valencia.

“We couldn’t finish today. We talked about that at halftime that you need to execute and finish,” Newport Harbor coach Juan Mares said. “We missed four chances in the first half.”

One was a penalty kick in the 10th minute that Marlon Nava smashed off the front of the crossbar.

” Hopefully, we will learn from this,” Mares said.

Mares had a right to feel frustrated after Monday’s game. The Sailors dominated possession and put twice as many shots on target as the Tigers.

Valencia’s best chance to score came off a free kick in the 45th minute when sophomore Devin Cornejo just missed putting the ball in the upper right corner.

More than luck, though, played into this result for Valencia. The Tigers got clutch second-half goalkeeping from Lucas Clarida. In the 70th minute, his leaping saves turned away Hayden Felfe’s shot. Later, Clarida stopped one of the Sailors’ five penalty kicks.

“We split time with our keepers, and both have been doing a great job for us,” Gardner said. “They are good in the air and have been making great reaction saves for us.”