PREP SOCCER PLAYOFF ROUNDUP : This Time, Mission Viejo Gets Orange Down, Keeps It Down

What was expected to be a close game turned into a rout when Mission Viejo defeated Orange, 4-0, in the second round of the Southern Section Division 3-A boys’ soccer playoffs Tuesday at Mission Viejo.

The Diablos (21-5-1) scored three goals within a six-minute span in the second half to secure their eighth consecutive victory and 18th shutout of the season. They advance to Friday’s quarterfinal against Diamond Bar, a 2-1 winner over Riverside Poly.

“We led, 1-0, against Orange with six minutes to play earlier this season and lost, 2-1, and the kids didn’t want that to happen again,” Mission Viejo Coach Cal Foster said. “In the second half, we stepped up our level of play. I’m surprised by the score because we’re usually not a high-scoring team.”

Orange (16-4-4) fell behind, 1-0, two minutes before halftime when Frank Pace scored on a breakaway, the first of his two goals.

He scored again 10 minutes into the second half on a rebound shot. Joe Christie scored two minutes later on a header off Rich Fiore’s inbound pass. George Larsen scored four minutes later, converting a breakaway for his 19th goal of the season.