Player sets soccer record for school

By Ray Brewer (contact)

Thursday, Oct. 2, 2008 | midnight

Esteban Corona arrived home from his soccer game on Sept. 24 and proudly told his parents the good news.

The Southeast Career and Technical Academy junior scored six goals in a 7-0 victory against Basic. The performance was a school record and also made him Tech's all-time leading goal scorer in the program's 15-year history with 32 goals.

There was only one problem — his family didn't believe him.

"My mom asked if the other team played without a goalie," Corona said. "My dad said they must have tied the goalie to the pole."

But it was true, and Corona still had a grin on his face the next day when talking about his improbable feat. He tallied all six goals in the second half in about 25 minutes of field time.

Some players don't score six goals in four years of high school, let alone one game. I had three in my prep career.

"I guess it was my day," Corona said.

Corona played forward, an attacking position where most goals are scored, his first two years with the Roadrunners. One of the program's top players, he was moved to defense this year to fill a need.

But with Tech struggling offensively against Basic, coach Josh Jones at halftime moved the speedy Corona to forward, hoping to spark the attack.

"He has the ability to take over a game," Jones said.

He proceeded to find the back of the net 50 seconds into the second half.

What was even more impressive about Corona's feat is the type of goals he scored. Five of the six tallies came on breakaways, a one-on-one scoring opportunity against the goalie he has struggled with during his high school career.

Corona couldn't convert on a pair of breakaways in the Sunrise Regional quarterfinals two years ago in a 2-0 loss to Eldorado. He remembers walking off the field feeling helpless because the Roadrunners' season had just ended.

"I missed two or three easy goals in that game," Corona said.

Tech was undefeated in the Southeast Division as of Sept. 29, and it appears Corona will get a chance for redemption in the playoffs. Jones plans to return Corona to his spot in the defense — at least until the offense stalls again.

Regardless of what position he plays, Corona has another goal. He wants to become the first Tech player to play Division I soccer.

"That's the plan," Corona said. "I just have to keep pushing myself and practicing hard."