Mustangs’ roller-coaster season continues with a tie

COSTA MESA — If there is a prescription for his team, Dan Johnston doesn’t know what it is.

His Costa Mesa High girls’ soccer team has been sporadic all season. The up and down play has led to some players referring to the team as “bipolar.” But while there are multiple treatments for bipolar disorder, Johnston is at a loss on how to keep his team from migrating out of the win column.

The 15-year coach thought his team had gotten past its pre-league season woes after finishing the first round of Orange Coast League games 2-0-1 and outscoring opponents 8-2, but the Mustangs followed it up with their first shutout loss, 2-0, to Laguna Beach, in over seven weeks and fell behind Calvary Chapel, 1-0, after the first half Thursday.

But the pendulum swung back for Costa Mesa and the Mustangs added a second half-goal to leave with a 1-1 tie and pulled to within a half game of first-place Laguna Beach.

“This team has played two games all year to its full potential,” Johnston said. “They have the potential to catch fire and be awesome.”

Injuries had a part in Costa Mesa’s play after starting league so strong. Senior Sharon Frazier, who led the Mustangs last season with 19 goals, injured her knee against Laguna Beach. Frazier was in street clothes against Calvary Chapel and while she said she was 60% to play against Estancia on Tuesday, Johnston said it would be a shock if she was ready to go.

Along with Frazier, senior Alaina Abalos injured her ankle on a kick from behind against Laguna Beach. What was first thought to be a break was actually torn ligaments and doctors said Abalos could be back in two weeks at the earliest Johnston said, but he is skeptical that will be the case.

“We’re definitely hurting,” said Johnston, who added that sophomore Dana Gentling has been out for a month.

But as one player loses a spot another gets the opportunity to shine. Senior Mireya Mojica did just that with her equalizer 10 minutes into the second half. Sophomore Ayla Medina sent a centering pass Mojica’s way, the midfielder gathered it then blasted a shot past the goalkeeper.

“Today she went out there and played great,” Johnston said of Mojica. “Kids who haven’t been getting time are getting more playing time now and being effective.”

One source of steady play has been senior Caitlyn Duffy, a four-year starter and Golden West League Defensive Player of the Year last season.

“We played alright,” Duffy said. “We could of played better. Calvary Chapel is a really good team. [At halftime] we talked about how we have to not get down on ourselves. We could still come back. We have good forwards. We just need a lot of effort.”

Duffy said the team’s erratic play this season has to do with how the Mustangs deal with wins and losses.

“We are having lots of ups and downs,” Duffy said. “We get really excited about winning and ease off at practice. We forget how hard we need to work and we’re unprepared. When we lose we go back hard in practice.”

Sophomore Kyra Graham said Duffy and the other seniors on the team played a major role in righting the season after an 0-4-3 start.

“In the beginning we weren’t 100% serious,” Graham said. “We were just hanging out. When we started losing, Coach said someone needs to take charge. [The seniors] said we need to take practice seriously. We need to take warm-ups seriously.”

Now despite their recent swing, the Mustangs have positioned themselves for one of the two guaranteed playoff spots the league offers.