xksandiego.com

March 4, 2008

Poway's Ian Weinberg blocked a penalty kick attempt from Erick Zuniga of Saddleback to set off a wild celebration as the seventh-seeded Titans bounced the second-seeded Roadrunners, 2-2, (2-1, in PKs) in the quarterfinals of the Division I CIF Southern California Regional Championship Tuesday at Segerstrom High School. The victory moves Poway (21-2-4) into the semifinals to play Roosevelt of Fresno, a 3-2 winner over Peninsula of Palos Verdes.

Weinberg, a senior, stopped four of five penalty kick attempts from Saddleback and attributed much of his success to Poway's hard fought win against San Diego HS in the San Diego Section Division I final Saturday. Weinberg felt going to PKs with the Cavers gave him confidence going to the penalty phase against Saddleback. Weinberg also notes that seeing so many PKs in the past few days gave him an edge in reading where he though the Saddleback players might go with their shots.

Weinberg stopped the first two shots by Jesus Salgado and Gerardo Guzman, before Edward Zepeda connected on what would be Saddleback's only successful PK. Poway had similar troubles with the Roadrunners' Gabriel Cueva, but shots from Alex Henry and the eventual game-winner by E.J. Scheekluth proved to be enough.

In regulation, Poway was the aggressor throughout much of the first half, but couldn't nudge across a goal until senior Peter Katakalidas scored with just less than 10 minutes left in the half. Perhaps the goal eased the Titans, who came out low in the second half and were in constant defense-mode against a skillful, tactically efficient Saddleback team. Saddleback (23-4-1) threaded the Poway defense with precise passing and long balls that kept defenders Zach Olow, Brian Romag, Gunnar Emery and Bryce Biolawa on their toes.

Saddleback tied the game at 1-1 with 29 minutes remaining when sophomore Kishein Lopez scored on a rebounded save by Weinberg. Poway retook the lead 2-1, eight minutes later, when senior Collin Wooster headed in a corner kick from Bilowa. After another eight minutes elapsed, it was Saddleback's turn again when Guzman controlled a shot from Omar Laris and barely got it past Weinberg.

Each team failed on excellent opportunities to take the lead late. Poway's Wooster just missed putting in another header with three minutes left and Zepeda hit the crossbar a minute later.

In the 15-minute sudden death overtime frame, Trent Skomra almost ended it about 3:30 in when he skidded a free kick toward the lower right of the goal entrance. Cueva, however, made a dazzling save. Poway coach Eugene Morris felt his team took being seeded seventh as a slight to them and the San Diego Section, but instead of being bitter it motivated his team. Weinberg expressed some disappointment at the lower than desired seed, but figured it was tough to seed a tournament when so many teams from so different areas hadn't played each other.

- Jim Inghram