ANAHEIM >> The Huntington Beach boys soccer team scored a pair of goals within a five-minute span in the first half and got clutch goal keeping from Daniel Kotkosky in the second half to earn a 2-0 victory over Servite in a nonleague game Thursday at Servite.
The defeat was the first of the season for the Friars, ranked No. 1 in CIF-SS Division 1.
Huntington Beach (6-1-1) came into the contest tied for 10th in the Division 1 poll.
Servite’s Nick Ruiz, left, reaches for the ball against Huntington Beach’s Kalani Delarole, right, during varsity soccer action Thursday December 16, 2012 in Anaheim
(Photo by Greg Andersen, Contributing Photographer)
Huntington Beach’s Nico Ruiz, right, heads the ball against Servite’s Daniel Gutierrez, left, during varsity soccer action Thursday December 16, 2012 in Anaheim
(Photo by Greg Andersen, Contributing Photographer)
Huntington Beach’s Carson Dykes moves the ball up field during varsity soccer action Thursday December 16, 2012 in Anaheim against Servite.
(Photo by Greg Andersen, Contributing Photographer)
Huntington Beach’s Matthew Finemel, left, battles with Servite’s Kevin Sanchez, right, during varsity soccer action Thursday December 16, 2012 in Anaheim
(Photo by Greg Andersen, Contributing Photographer)
Servite’s Dylan Graham controls the ball against Huntington Beach’s defense during varsity soccer action Thursday December 16, 2012 in Anaheim
(Photo by Greg Andersen, Contributing Photographer)
Huntington Beach’s Reid Fisher, top right, celebrates a goal with teammates during varsity soccer action Thursday December 16, 2012 in Anaheim against Servite.
(Photo by Greg Andersen, Contributing Photographer)
Huntington Beach’s Reid Fisher takes a moment prior to Thursday’s game against Servite.
Servite played against Huntington Beach during varsity soccer action Thursday December 16, 2012 in Anaheim
(Photo by Greg Andersen, Contributing Photographer)
Huntington Beach’s Carson Dykes, left, tries to control the ball against Servite’s JT Danks, right, during varsity soccer action Thursday December 16, 2012 in Anaheim
(Photo by Greg Andersen, Contributing Photographer)
Servite’s Eduardo Villeda, left, gets a foot on the ball against a Huntington Beach defender, right, during varsity soccer action Thursday December 16, 2012 in Anaheim
(Photo by Greg Andersen, Contributing Photographer)
Servite head coach Eddie Soto makes his way off the field prior to Thursday’s game against Huntington Beach.
Servite takes on Huntington Beach during varsity soccer action Thursday December 16, 2012 in Anaheim
(Photo by Greg Andersen, Contributing Photographer)
Huntington Beach’s Mario Hernandez dribbles the ball up field during varsity soccer action Thursday December 16, 2012 in Anaheim against Servite.
(Photo by Greg Andersen, Contributing Photographer)
Servite’s Jahir Gonzalez Sandoval, left, battles against a Huntington Beach defender, right, during varsity soccer action Thursday December 16, 2012 in Anaheim
(Photo by Greg Andersen, Contributing Photographer)
Huntington Beach’s Max Milo, right, heads the ball against Servite defenders during varsity soccer action Thursday December 16, 2012 in Anaheim
(Photo by Greg Andersen, Contributing Photographer)
Both goals for the Oilers were scored off scrums in front of the net.
The first came in the 17th minute off a corner kick that was initially headed into the air by Servite’s Eduardo Villeda.
The teams were battling for control when Reid Fisher got just enough of the ball before knocking it into the net.
In the 22nd minute, the Friars (4-1) and Oilers were once again fighting for control in front of the goal, when Kalani Delarole got the final touch and kicked the ball into the net.
“The teams that win those scrums in front of the goal tend to get the win,” said Oilers assistant coach Eric Dykes, who was filling in for coach Sean Dick. “We’re very proud of the boys but we’ve got a lot of work to do.”
The Oilers did a good job limiting Servite’s scoring opportunities in the first half but the Friars had several chances in the second half.
Early in the second half, Servite’s Justin Faison got off a hard shot, which went straight at Kotkosky
The Friars had opportunities on three set pieces in the final minutes of the contest.
Kotkosky leaped high in the air to bat away a high and hard shot from Villeda, then dove to his right to block a shot from Dylan Graham.
The Friars’ final chance came on a bullet from Graham that hit the top of the goal.
“They came out strong in the first half,” Servite coach Eddie Soto said. “They got the two goals and we were chasing the game from that point. In the second half, we showed a lot more grit and fight. We just couldn’t get it rolling.”
Related Articles
CIF-SS boys soccer polls, Dec. 13
CIF-SS girls soccer polls, Dec. 13
CIF-SS boys soccer polls, Dec. 6
CIF-SS girls soccer polls, Dec. 6
Girls soccer: Best in the West tournament returns with top Division 1 contenders
The players from both teams are well acquainted with each other from playing on the CDA Slammers in Huntington Beach.
“These guys are some of my best friends,” said Reid, who has accepted a scholarship to play at San Diego State. “It definitely got our boys fired up.”
