By Elizabeth Goldman
Sports Editor
Mira Costa Boys Soccer defeated Loyola in the division one, CIF-SS championship game on May 28. With senior Ben Moglia scoring the only goal, the Mustangs won 1-0, bringing home Costa Boys Soccer’s first CIF title.
“I am very proud of the team’s performance this game. Everybody understood what was at stake, but we did a good job to not let the intensity of the occasion get to our heads,” senior Michael Crisera said. “Everybody played for each other, and it felt like we just wanted it more than them.”
Throughout the majority of the game, the Mustangs were able to keep the ball controlled and on their offensive end. According to Crisera, their chemistry and teamwork, both on and off the field, is what set them apart from the other teams, allowing them to bring home this win.
“Everybody is so close with one another outside of soccer, and this really contributed to our success on the field,” Crisera said. “We [were] able to outplay our opponents by working as a team, [and] when we got to the final we knew that there was no way we were going to lose after coming so far.”
This high-intensity game with two formidable teams resulted in a stalemate for most of the game, save for Moglia’s goal thirteen minutes into the first half. Throughout the rest of the game, the Mustangs were able to prevent Loyola from gaining possession of the ball long enough to score.
“When I scored I was too focused to really celebrate, but after the game it felt surreal as it ended up being the deciding factor,” said Moglia. “It was really [thanks to] Thomas Southey and Kenneth Yap though, who set me up perfectly.”
Senior Joe Staszcow replaced junior Jack Walter as goalie for the second half. While the Mustangs didn’t let the Cubs shoot often, Staszkow saved two attempted shots in the last five minutes, the second of which occurred with barely ten seconds left.
“The game was exciting [and] electric, the most fun I’ve had in a very long time, [but] closing a game as a goalkeeper is one of the most nerve-racking things I’ve ever had to do,” Staszcow said. “[It was] insane holding the ball in my hands with only 10 seconds winding down on the clock, knowing that we’re about to win the game. [At that point], I knew I did my part and that we were champions.”
The Mustangs have scored a total of 40 goals this season throughout their 18 games, with 15 wins, 3 ties, and 1 loss. After winning the CIF Southern Section Division 1 championships, boys varsity soccer will move onto the Division 1 Regional Playoffs.
“It means so much to me to be able to be a part of the team to bring the first CIF title to Costa,” Crisera said. “This title represents the culmination of years of hard work that have been put in by the generations of program alumni that came before us.”
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