ANAHEIM >> On paper, the JSerra and Servite boys soccer teams appeared evenly matched heading into their Trinity League game at Servite High School on Wednesday.
The Friars and Lions are ranked Nos. 2 and 4, respectively, in Division 1 of the CIF Southern Section and entered the contest with near identical records and tied for first place in league.
But it didn’t play out that way on the field, where the Friars took a two-goal lead early and went on to a 4-0 victory.
The Servite JV players piled onto the field to celebrate after varsity player Dylan Graham (12) of Servite scored against JSerra during a Trinity League boys soccer game at Servite High School in Anaheim on Wednesday, January 12, 2022. Servite won the game 4-0. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Logan Mahoney (32) of JSerra Justin Faison (15) of Servite battle for the ball during a Trinity League boys soccer game at Servite High School in Anaheim on Wednesday, January 12, 2022. Servite won the game 4-0. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Kyrome Lumsden (72) of Servite is gets bumped by Colm Cohen (17) of JSerra during a Trinity League boys soccer game at Servite High School in Anaheim on Wednesday, January 12, 2022. Servite won the game 4-0. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Dylan Graham (12) of Servite and Colm Cohen (17) of JSerra maneuver for the ball during a Trinity League boys soccer game at Servite High School in Anaheim on Wednesday, January 12, 2022. Servite won the game 4-0. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Luke DaVanon (25) of Servite and Nate Aquino (27) of JSerra battle for the header during a Trinity League boys soccer game at Servite High School in Anaheim on Wednesday, January 12, 2022. Servite won the game 4-0. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Justin Faison (15) of Servite, lifts teammate Cristian Uriostegui (14) after Uriostegui scored a goal against JSerra during a Trinity League boys soccer game at Servite High School in Anaheim on Wednesday, January 12, 2022. Servite won the game 4-0. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Sidney Dina (99) of JSerra and Dylan Graham (12) of Servite battle for control of the ball during a Trinity League boys soccer game at Servite High School in Anaheim on Wednesday, January 12, 2022. Servite won the game 4-0. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Tyler Stewart (9) of JSerra holds on to the jersey of Justin Faison (15) of Servite as he moves the ball down the field during a Trinity League boys soccer game at Servite High School in Anaheim on Wednesday, January 12, 2022. Servite won the game 4-0. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Justin Faison (15) of Servite gets past Tyler Stewart (9) of JSerra during a Trinity League boys soccer game at Servite High School in Anaheim on Wednesday, January 12, 2022. Servite won the game 4-0. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Brandon Schalliol (6) of Servite goes over Tyler Stewart (9) of JSerra to head the ball during a Trinity League boys soccer game at Servite High School in Anaheim on Wednesday, January 12, 2022. Servite won the game 4-0. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
JSerra head boys soccer coach Erik Kirsch calls out instructions to his team during a Trinity League boys soccer game at Servite High School in Anaheim on Wednesday, January 12, 2022. Servite won the game 4-0. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Eduardo Villeda (10) of Servite and Andy Garcia (24) of JSerra battle the ball during a Trinity League boys soccer game at Servite High School in Anaheim on Wednesday, January 12, 2022. Servite won the game 4-0. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Cristian Uriostegui (14) of Servite watches as his kick goes into to the goal for a score against JSerra during a Trinity League boys soccer game at Servite High School in Anaheim on Wednesday, January 12, 2022. Servite won the game 4-0. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Tyler Stewart (9) of JSerra and Joe Moyer (7) of Servite chase the ball during a Trinity League boys soccer game at Servite High School in Anaheim on Wednesday, January 12, 2022. Servite won the game 4-0. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Servite boys soccer head coach Eddie Soto calls out instructions to his team in a game against JSerra during a Trinity League boys soccer game at Servite High School in Anaheim on Wednesday, January 12, 2022. Servite won the game 4-0. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Dylan Graham and Cristin Uriotegui scored two goals each for the Friars (10-2-1, 3-0), who now stand alone as the league’s top team.
The Lions (7-2-1, 2-1) and Friars will play again Jan. 27 at JSerra in what is likely to be a meaningful game in terms of the final standings and seedings for the playoffs.
“You can never underestimate JSerra, so the approach we took was a good one,” Servite coach Eddie Soto said. “Our guys got up early and I don’t think we took our foot off the gas. A lot of it had to do with their mental preparation. They were ready for this one.”
The first two goals came in similar fashion.
Graham controlled the rebound off Eduardo Villeda’s free kick and scored six minutes into the contest.
Six minutes later, Villeda had another free kick. JSerra goalkeeper Pierce Peiffer made a nice diving save on Villeda’s shot. This time, Uriotegui got the rebound and scored to give the Friars a 2-0 lead.
Uriotegui scored his second goal just before halftime off a short lateral pass from Rylan Firouznam.
“This feels good,” Uriotegui said of his performance. “It’s my senior year. We’re just trying to win.”
Five minutes into the second half, Graham scored his second goal on a pass from Villeda, who picked up his second assist on the play.
“We have to be prepared to really battle and we came out a little bit slow,” JSerra coach Erik Kirsch said
“We learned a lot as a program. We need to learn how to start against very good teams.”
The Friars and Lions are accustomed to playing each other in big games.
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Servite came from behind to defeat JSerra, 2-1, in the next-to-last game of the league play last season. The victory allowed the Friars to clinch their eighth consecutive league title when they defeated Santa Margarita in the final game of the regular season.
