Costa Mesa falls to South Pasadena in CIF playoff opener

Mustangs shut out 1-0 despite strong defensive effort

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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Costa Mesa's boys soccer team fell to South Pasadena 1-0 in the opening round of the CIF Southern Section Division 6 playoffs on Wednesday. The lone goal came in the 16th minute when South Pasadena's Aidan Munoz scored off a corner kick. Despite a valiant effort, the Mustangs were unable to find the back of the net against the relentless Tigers defense.

Why it matters

This loss ends the season for Costa Mesa, a team that had high hopes after an 8-7-1 regular season record. The Mustangs were led by a strong senior class, including captain and midfielder Roman Serpas, who the coach said "gave so much to the program" over the years.

The details

South Pasadena, the Rio Hondo League champion, applied constant pressure throughout the match, making it difficult for Costa Mesa to generate scoring chances. The Tigers' defense limited the Mustangs to just three shots on goal, with the best opportunities coming from senior forward Carlos Alcala. However, South Pasadena goalkeeper Mick Dubester was up to the task, making several key saves to preserve the shutout.

  • The lone goal was scored in the 16th minute by Aidan Munoz.
  • Alcala had a good chance early in the game that was saved by the goalkeeper.
  • Alcala had another quality opportunity four minutes into the second half that was also saved.

The players

Aidan Munoz

The South Pasadena player who scored the game's only goal in the 16th minute.

Roman Serpas

The Costa Mesa team captain and critical midfielder who the coach said "gave so much to the program" over the years.

Carlos Alcala

The Costa Mesa senior forward who had the Mustangs' best scoring chances in the match.

Mick Dubester

The South Pasadena goalkeeper who made several key saves to preserve the shutout.

Santiago Guzman

The emotional head coach of the Costa Mesa Mustangs who was saddened to see the season end for his senior-led team.

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What they’re saying

“I'm just sad that we have to end our cycle. It's just a cycle of life. He has to move on, but I had him for six years, and he gave so much to the program. Every game, he fought, he never gave up, never ever gave up.”

— Santiago Guzman, Head Coach, Costa Mesa Mustangs (The Tribune)

“They just were on top of us. We were still able to control some part of the game, especially in the second half. First half, they were just on us the whole time. One of our guys will get the ball, and there you have it, you got three guys on top of him.”

— Santiago Guzman, Head Coach, Costa Mesa Mustangs (The Tribune)

“[Alcala] was their biggest threat. Very fast, very athletic, very technical. I think for us defensively, the adjustment was having one center back constantly with him and the other center back acting, basically, as coverage.”

— Justin Wright, Head Coach, South Pasadena Tigers (The Tribune)

What’s next

The South Pasadena Tigers will advance to the next round of the CIF Southern Section Division 6 playoffs.

The takeaway

This hard-fought playoff match showcased the contrasting styles of the two teams, with South Pasadena's relentless pressure and defensive organization proving too much for the Mustangs to overcome on the day. Despite the disappointing end to their season, Costa Mesa can be proud of the effort and dedication of their senior-led squad.