SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO — A header into the goal from Marcus Ozmai off a free kick from Angel Reyes was the only goal in JSerra’s 1-0 victory over San Clemente in an opening round game of the CIF-SS Open Division playoffs Wednesday at JSerra High School.
The Lions (9-1-7), who are the No. 6 seed in the Open Division playoffs, and Tritons (13-1-3), who are the No. 3 seed, play again Friday at 4:45 p.m. at San Clemente High School.
Under the format for the new Open Division, each team’s cumulative score for both games is used to determine the winner, who then advances to the quarterfinal round.
With JSerra ahead by one goal, the Tritons would need to win by two goals or win in overtime on Friday to defeat the Lions and advance.
If the teams’ cumulative scores are tied at the end of regulation, two 10-minute overtime periods would be played under a golden goal format. If neither team scores in overtime, penalty kicks would determine the winner.
“They brought it today and we brought it,” JSerra coach Erik Kirsch. “I’m proud of the boys, but it’s only half the leg. We still got a half a leg to play. So there’s still a lot of game left. We’re going to go out there to their home and give them just as much as they gave us or more.”
The game was scoreless at halftime although the Tritons controlled most of the action in the first half.
That changed in the second half with the Lions getting off three shots on or near the goal early in the half.
In the 18th minute of the second half, JSerra set up for a free kick along the right sideline 30 yards away from the goal.
Reyes sent the kick into the box and the ball took one bounce then Ozmai headed it into the left side of the goal.
“I was just trying to put the keeper in trouble and whip it in back post,” Reyes said of the kick. “We knew we had runners. Hopefully it would hit someone, maybe one of their players, but it caused trouble.”
Ozmai said the ball couldn’t have been placed any better.
“I’m thinking the momentum is on our side and just keep it up for the team and just keep going,” Ozmai said. “We still have Friday, but to get that goal and get this win is huge.”
Both teams won CIF SS championships last season.
After winning the CIF SS Division 1 title, the Lions went on to capture the CIF Southern California Division I championship.
The Tritons won the CIF SS Division 2 title and advanced to the Southern California Division II championship game.
The Lions and Tritons are among five Orange County teams selected for the Open Division.
The other Open Division games Wednesday:
Godinez lost to No. 1 seed Arlington 4-0;
No. 2 seed Mater Dei lost to Montclair 2-1;
Aliso Niguel lost to No. 4 seed Mira Costa 1-0.
