By Karen Phan
Yesterday afternoon, boys’ varsity soccer hosted the Newport Harbor High School Sailors and won with a 2-0 shutout.
The first half opened up with Fountain Valley making multiple pushes up field, but Newport Harbor responded with equal aggression. The Barons picked up the pace 10 minutes into the half with senior Dakota Whitsel and junior Sebastian Rus leading the offense followed by a header by senior Austin Penella on a corner kick.
Although the game returned to a stalemate following Penella’s goal, both teams played with increased energy. Newport Harbor had brief periods of strong offensive pressure and almost scored in the 20th minute, yet Fountain Valley’s teamwork and aggression allowed them to win 50/50 tackles and play on Newport Harbor’s territory more frequently.
The back-and-forth action continued late into the half until the Barons earned a corner kick with Penella scoring his second goal off another header in the 36th minute. Senior captain Devon Verde, junior Dylan Duong and Rus made a final effort to score before the half ended with the Barons leading the Sailors 2-0.
“In the first half, we came out very strong and played well,” Penella said. “We work[ed] more as a team rather than as individuals.”
Fountain Valley was in immediate possession of the ball at the beginning of the second half, but the game was at an impasse as it was in the first half. Rus took several shots on goal but was unsuccessful and the Sailors could not penetrate the Barons’ defense to take shots.
“We struggled for short periods during the second half and we just let off the gas because we felt confident in the lead,” Whitsel said.
In the 70th minute, Newport Harbor received a penalty kick that resulted in a goal but it was called back due to an offside penalty. The Barons strengthened their defense following the Sailors’ disallowed goal to prevent Newport Harbor from taking any more shots on goal. Fountain Valley’s energy was high as the game came to an end with another shot on goal by Rus and two corner kicks by Whitsel.
“We had a rocky start with a lot of unlucky or difficult games, but we are finding our form with some big results against good teams,” Whitsel said. “I think we have a great chance of winning the [Sunset] League this year, and if we play how we have been in these last couple of games, then I think we will win.”
The boys played their Sunset League opener against Edison High School last Friday and tied 2-2. Come support them at their next game this Friday at Los Alamitos High School at 5 p.m. or next Wednesday at home against the Corona del Mar Sea Kings at 3 p.m.
