Seniors of the Mater Dei boys soccer team pose for a group photo after losing to St. Augine in the CIF Southern California Regional Championship game on Saturday, March 2. (Photo by Michael Huntley)
SANTA ANA — The Mater Dei boys soccer team struggled uncharacteristically in a 2-0 loss to St. Augustine in the CIF Southern California Regional Division I championship game on Saturday at Mater Dei High School.
Mater Dei (21-3-1) defeated Arlington of Riverside in the CIF Southern Section Open Division championship game last week, winning the section for the first time since 2001. The Monarchs defeated Del Norte 3-0 in the district semifinals on Thursday.
Saturday was the only shutout for Mater Dei this season.
This was the 14th shutout for CIF-San Diego Section Open Division champion St. Augustine (21-2-3). The Saints defeated Mira Costa and Arlington of Riverside to advance to the district championship game.
“There's not a single player on our roster who hasn't contributed this season,” Mater Dei coach Sean Gainey said. “It's a special group. When things come together like this, it's very special.”
It was a physical game that resulted in multiple yellow cards and multiple players leaving the field with injuries.
Early in the first half, Mater Dei defenseman Diego Chavarria suffered a serious injury. The senior did not return from his knee injury, but returned to the bench on crutches to support his teammates.
Monarchs sophomore Aiden Romo, who scored the winning goal in the CIF-SS championship game against Arlington, also left the game with a foot injury.
St. Augustine put constant pressure on the Mater Dei defense in the first half. The Saints took the lead in the 23rd minute with a rebound from Gus Velez, who signed with the University of San Diego.
“They can beat you in a few different ways,” Gainey said. “They have great attackers and the number 9 (Vélez) gave us problems. He was the first one to cause us problems in the air. It's all thanks to them. A great team and to win. I did everything necessary.”
St. Augustine scored again in the 46th minute when Nico Zaruru took a corner kick and slotted the ball into the top right corner of the goal.
Mater Dei had three close scoring chances Saturday. Kevin Abarca took a free kick from the 30-yard line, and Kalani Kunimura headed it into the arms of diving St. Augustine goalie Owen Johnston.
In the 65th minute, Kunimura fired a free kick into the box, and Johnston ran up and made a save in traffic.
Mater Dei's last chance to score came in the 70th minute, when James Obreda fired a clear shot from the left, but it crashed into the side of the goal.
“I thought we improved as the game went on and had some chances, but we just couldn't convert them,” Gainey said.
Mater Dei goalkeeper Robbie Ammann made two saves.