Eagles

SANTA ANA - How can a team that is unbeaten in league at this point of the season be in danger of missing the playoffs? Welcome to the 2012-13 Estancia High girls' soccer season. The Eagles put forth another big effort Thursday afternoon at Saddleback High, battling the Roadrunners to a scoreless tie. But the difference between three points for a win and one point for a tie becomes more and more obvious as the Orange Coast League schedule hits the home stretch. The ties are getting a bit ridiculous for Estancia (6-2-12, 2-0-6 in league)

COSTA MESA - Youth and high energy helped the Estancia High girls' soccer team out of its funk of complacency. Freshman Emily Rodriguez, a recent call-up from the junior varsity team, scored two goals to lead the Eagles to a 3-0 Orange Coast League victory over rival Costa Mesa Tuesday at Jim Scott Stadium. Estancia (6-2-11, 2-0-5 in league) had five straight ties entering Tuesday's match against the Mustangs. But the Eagles appeared determined to earn the win from the outset.

COSTA MESA - The Estancia High girls' basketball team was in a sticky situation Tuesday night, a close Battle for the Bell game on the road. Two senior captains fouled out near the end for the Eagles. Costa Mesa senior Molly Settles was on fire. Enter Estancia freshman Maya Van Den Heever, who had led the Eagles offensively in the game. She came up big on defense in the final minute as well. Van Den Heever made sure the Eagles were in a more pleasant sticky situation after the game.

RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA - The Newport Harbor High girls' water polo team had to put up with the elements on a rainy and foggy Saturday afternoon at Santa Margarita High. Putting up with Santa Margarita senior center Emily Loughlin, who plays on the U.S. women's youth national team, is more difficult. Loughlin was constantly double-teamed by Newport senior Avery Peterson and sophomore Rachel Whitelegge. The Sailors also ran a drop defense on her. "[Loughlin] is so strong that you've got to drop from the outside and hope that their outside shooters don't have a good day," Coach Bill Barnett said.

LAGUNA BEACH - With the way the Los Angeles Lakers are struggling, Estancia High girls' basketball co-coach Xavier Castellano has been getting a bit agitated. As the losses pile up for the Lake Show, Castellano, a lifelong Lakers fan, at least had led the Estancia girls to a perfect record in the Orange Coast League. But that is no longer the case. Host Laguna Beach pulled away for a 43-37 victory Thursday night, handing the Eagles their first league loss and cutting their lead in league in half.

COSTA MESA - Coach Robert Castellano has told his players that they're all important and he needs each one of them to do their part. He's not kidding. Everyone on the team gets to play. With only 15 players, the Estancia High boys' soccer team is thin. The program began the season with 20 players, but three players have been lost to injuries and two players because they had to get jobs. At halftime of the Eagles' match on Friday, they lost another player. Castellano said Chris Gomez, the team's leading goal scorer last season, had to leave because of work.

BOYS' BASKETBALL Estancia 76, Saddleback 55 COSTA MESA - Josh Mendoza scored 22 points for the Eagles in the Orange Coast League game Friday. Matt Jarmacz had 19 points and seven rebounds, while Martin Harry (five assists) and Mike Hubbard (nine rebounds) scored 10 points each for Estancia (5-15, 1-3 in league). Ben Beck finished with nine points for the Eagles. * Corona del Mar 68, University 37 IRVINE - Max Stone scored 18 points for the Sea Kings in the Pacific Coast League game Friday.

SANTA ANA - Nearly three minutes into the second half on Friday, the Costa Mesa High boys' basketball team was reveling in a nine-point lead and a chance to not only solidify a spot in the upper half of the Orange Coast League standings, but remain one game out of first place. But what followed was enough to not only chip away at all those positives, but put the Mustangs in an uphill fight for one of the league's three guaranteed CIF Southern Section playoff berths. Trailing, 35-26, with 5:19 remaining in the third quarter, host Calvary Chapel exploded into a 32-6 run that spanned the next 10:47 of action.

BOYS' SOCCER Estancia 1, Laguna Beach 0 COSTA MESA - Abraham Cortez scored in the fifth minute for the Eagles in the Orange Coast League match at Jim Scott Stadium Friday. George Mendoza provided the assist for Estancia (6-4-3, 1-1-0 in league), which had 20 shots on goal to the Breakers' six. Eagles goalie Danny Guerrero made three saves in his shutout. Laguna Beach entered ranked No. 10 in CIF Southern Section Division 5. * Huntington Beach 2, Newport Harbor 1 HUNTINGTON BEACH - True Tamplin scored on a penalty kick for the Sailors in the Sunset League game Friday.