PHOTOS: Servite falls to Cathedral on penalty kicks ending memorable post-season

Servite’s Denzel Barrientos (9) tries to maintain his balance while battling for the ball Thursday. (Photos courtesy Jim McCormack, For OC Sports Zone)

Servite’s magnificent 13-game unbeaten run that had led to a seventh consecutive Trinity League title and a CIF Divison 1 championship came to a numbing end Thursday afternoon when rival Cathedral battled the host Friars for 95 minutes and then prevailed on penalty kicks (4-2) in a Southern California Division 1 boys soccer semifinal.

Thursday’s clash was a rematch of a CIF semifinal 10 days ago when the teams played to a 0-0 tie and the Friars won on penalty kicks, 5-3.

To see the slide show, please click on the first photo

Servite's Eddie Villeda congratulates teammate Jesus Melgoza (23) after Melgoza scored on a Villeda pass.

Servite's Dean Hirsch, left, and Cathedral's Oscar Morales battle for the ball.

Servite's Uriel Sanchez races past a fallen Cathedral defender during Thursday's SoCal Division 1 soccer semifinal.

Servite's Dean Hirsch (2) dodges a kick by Cathedral's Rudy Viana.

Servite's Jesus Melgoza battles for the ball with a Cathedral offensive player.

Servite's Alejandro Mendez and Cathedral's Nile Nguidjol battle for the ball on the sideline Thursday.

Servite's Lex Leathem leaps to control the ball during Thursday's match with Cathedral.

Servite's Joey Lutfi pokes the ball away from Cathedral's Andy Ortega (9).

Servite's Ryan Kay (3) and Cathedral's Alejandro Mendez (10) joust for the ball during Thursday's CIF Division 1 SoCal regional.

Cathedral goalie Damien Montes bats away a Servite penalty kick, securing SoCal regional semifinal playoff win for the Phantoms.

Servite's Eduardo Villeda flips the ball away from Cathedral's Alan Moreno-Uriber.

Cathedral's Johan Sanchez tries to kick the ball away from Servite's Eduardo Villeda.

Servite's Eduardo Villeda shields the ball from Cathedral defender Alan Moreno-Uribe.

Servite's Eduardo Villeda battles a Cathedral player during Thursday's match.

Servite's Jesus Melgoza (left) scrambles for the ball against a Cathedral defender.

Servite's Jesus Melgoza (23) blocks kick by Cathedral's Chazz Smith.

Servite's Jesus Melgoza and Cathedral's Jason Argueta (27) battle for a sideline ball.

Thursday’s rematch was misleading. Playing their third match in six days Servite played aggressive soccer and led much of the match, 1-0, only to see Cathedral score in the 67^th minute and then survive 22 minutes of playing a man down after a red card ejection to get the match to penalty kicks.

In the penalty kick phase Cathedral goalie Damian Montes stopped one Friar shot and another hit the right post and caromed away while the Phantoms converted all four of their kicks.

“We played great today, dominated the game in same instances, but we just couldn’t get that second goal,” said Servite Coach Jon Spencer while praising the effort he got from his team.

Servite scored in the 15^th minute when Jesus Melgoze scored on an assist from Eddie Villeda on what Spencer called a “brilliant goal.”

That goal looked as though it would stand, and it did until the 67^th minute when standout goalie David Mitzner fielded a ball and inadvertently dropped it. Cathedral’s Nile Mguidjol blocked the ensuing kick and put the ball in an open net for a tying score.

Moments later Mguidjol received a red card for throwing down a Servite player who had fouled him (the Servite player received a yellow) and Cathedral had to play the rest of the match with 10 players.

Servite finished its season with a 16-6-6 record. Cathedral will play at Loyola Saturday at 4 p.m. in the SoCal Regional title game.

—Courtesy Jim McCormack for OC Sports Zone