Sunny Hills boys soccer slips a goal past El Toro to advance in playoffs

FULLERTON — A goal by forward Brandon Netzahual in the 28th minute held up as the Sunny Hills boys soccer team knocked off El Toro, 1-0, in the second round of the CIF-SS Division 1 playoffs Friday at Sunny Hills High School.

The Lancers, who are ranked No. 10 in Orange County, have not allowed a goal through two playoff games and are heading into the quarterfinal round on a five-game winning streak.

Sunny Hills has given up only one goal during that stretch.

“I think we managed the game well,” Lancers coach Jordan Brinkley said. “We scored early. We closed the game out. It got a little deep but I think it worked out and we kept a shutout so that is super important to us.”

Netzahual and teammate Jaiden Duran were battling with defenders for control of the ball when Duran made a short cross pass to Netzahual, who took the shot through a narrow window of players. The ball went into the left side of the goal, just out of the reach of the diving goalkeeper, from about 30 yards out.

“He gave me a short pass and I saw the two defenders and I just cut through them and then I saw that little opening,” Netzahual said. “I was like, I’m going to take the shot and luckily it went in and it was the game winner.”

Scoring early gave Sunny Hills a huge boost of confidence, the sophomore said. The Lancers were able to maintain the momentum for the remainder of the game.

In the second half, the Chargers (18-3-5) had their share of corner kicks, free kicks and throw-ins from the Sunny Hills end of the field, but the Lancers did a great job of converging on the ball without allowing a clear shot.

“We came in with the mentality that we had to win every ball in the air,” Duran said. “And win every ball on the ground.”

Brinkley praised the Chargers’ ability to swarm to the ball quickly, which limited his team’s scoring chances.

“They kind of limited our space,” Brinkley said. “So, we didn’t have that many chances. We made the most out of the little space we had. (Netzahual) found a little window, a little channel. That’s all it took.”

The Lancers made the jump up to Division 1 this season after losing in the quarterfinals in Division 2 last season.

Sunny Hills was the No.1 seed in Division 1 two years ago but was knocked out in the opening round by Orange Lutheran.

“But we just show up and play,” Brinkley said.

The Chargers, the champions of the South Coast League, came into the playoffs as the fifth-ranked team in Orange County, but the top-ranked team among public schools. The four teams ahead of El Toro are all out of the Trinity League.