Men’s soccer: OCC’s Arriaga keys quarterfinal win

Steve Virgen

COSTA MESA - Fortunately for the Orange Coast College men’s soccer

team, freshman goalkeeper Hilario Arriaga chose the Pirates over Santa

Ana.

Arriaga, who was part of Estancia High’s CIF Southern Section Division

IV champions last year, turned back 11 shots Tuesday to key OCC’s 1-0

victory over visiting Rio Hondo in the quarterfinals of the Southern

California Regional playoffs.

“There’s nothing better than going to a team that’s low and making

them better,” said Arriaga, who had eight saves in the second half. “If

you go to a good team, you know that they’re going to be good and there’s

no challenge. I was going to go to Santa Ana, but it was a long drive.

And I don’t know any of the guys. Coach Laird (Hayes), he would go to

Estancia games. And he was always there for me.”

With its third win in the playoffs, OCC matched its win total from

last season. The Pirates (18-3-4) have more than quintupled their wins

from last year (3-14-2). And they are now in the state championships, a

feat they haven’t reached since 1991 when OCC won the state title.

The Pirates, the No. 6 seed, will play in the state’s version of the

Final Four, Dec. 2-3, at West Hills College in Coalinga, most likely

against No. 3 Santa Rosa. The championship game will be Dec. 3 as the

Pirates hope to face No. 1 Santa Ana again.

The Pirates won their 10th game in a row -- which includes a 3-2

victory over Santa Ana that ended the Dons’ 70-game winning streak -- in

an intense matchup with Rio Hondo (15-7-3).

“It’s been magical,” Hayes said. “But, in a way I’m not surprised. We

just have a great group of kids and a great coaching staff. Everyone has

their role. The results speak for themselves.”

The Roadrunners controlled most of the game, but OCC made its crucial

attack in the 18th minute.

After Josh Miller’s header sailed just over the crossbar, OCC

continued to penetrate Rio Hondo’s defense.

Chris Wimmer, who took a pass from Miller, worked his way past two

defenders and connected for the score.

“I never gave up,” said Wimmer who was impressed with the Roadrunners.

“They played a lot better than the first time. They gave us a good game.

It was pretty even.”

Rio Hondo, which fell to the Pirates, 5-2, on Sept. 1, was a different

team in the playoffs.

The Roadrunners grabbed and tugged at OCC jerseys. They pushed for any

advantage possible and, once, Leo Figueroa punched Miller when they both

went for the ball. Figueroa was assessed a yellow card as the OCC bench

clamored for a red card.

In all, officials doled out three yellow cards in the first half. The

other two went to OCC’s Ian Buchanan and Geno Vitale-Sansosti.

The fast-paced play and intensity has been Rio Hondo’s game, but the

Pirates were able to hold them off, despite being outshot, 13-7.

“(Rio Hondo) had 70% of the ball,” assistant coach Kevin Smith said.

“We were content with that, as long as it wasn’t going to be dangerous.

Hilario was great. He’s been steady. He made some good saves.”

Arriaga, a second-team All-Orange Empire Conference choice, stopped

shot after shot in the second half. He said he rallied behind the play of

his teammates.

He is not the only one with winning experience for OCC, a team that

features 13 freshman of the 20-man squad.

Freshman Edson Anaya also played with Arriaga at Estancia. And

freshmen Ian Buchanan, Wimmer, Aaron Siemers, Miguel Ruiz, Billy Pena,

Matt Moseley, Matt Desmond and Chance Daniel played for the esteemed

Wolfpack soccer club, based in Fountain Valley and Huntington Beach.

Wimmer and Buchanan played in the national under-19 club Final Four

last year and Smith was on the coaching staff.

“We’re just a bunch of guys who are winners,” Arriaga said. “The guys

from the Wolfpack club, they know how to win. And I’ve been in the big

games, too. I guess we’re underdogs every time we play, but hey, be

careful. I’m not scared of anyone. When you’re in the game, it’s anyone’s

game. We proved that against Santa Ana.”

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA REGIONAL PLAYOFFS

First round: Nov. 14 -- Orange Coast 2, L.A. Harbor 1

Second round: Nov. 18 -- Orange Coast 1, Santa Barbara 0

Quarterfinals: Nov. 21 -- Orange Coast 2, Rio Hondo 0

State championships: Dec. 2-3 at West Hills College.

Fresno (17-0-6); Santa Rosa (19-0-0); Santa Ana (19-1-4); Orange Coast

(18-3-4).