All clear for Estancia boys’ soccer team

The Estancia High boys’ soccer team is clear of any allegations of using a player who played for an adult club team and the Eagles at the same time, the school’s principal Phil D’Agostino said Tuesday.

Had the allegation been true it would have been in violation of CIF Rule 600 and the Eagles would have been removed from the CIF Southern Section Division IV playoffs and would have been forced to forfeit all games competed with the alleged player.

A Costa Mesa representative made D’Agostino aware of the allegation Wednesday. D’Agostino then took the matter to the CIF office and made CIF aware Estancia would conduct an investigation on its own boys’ soccer team.

A CIF representative called D’Agostino Monday to let him know the Eagles are clear to play and there were no violations, the principal said.

“We take alleged rules violations very seriously,” D’Agostino said. “We contacted CIF to request information and the proper procedures for this situation. We investigated it and we made sure we were following the proper procedures. I got a call on Monday that the investigation was closed. Estancia remains the Orange Coast League’s No. 1 representative in the CIF [Division IV] playoffs.”

Estancia, the Orange Coast League champion, will play host to Malibu Thursday at 6 p.m. at Jim Scott Stadium.

The CIF received several affidavits regarding the matter, according to a report Monday on ocvarsity.com. D’Agostino did not want to comment if other people or schools submitted affidavits or allegations about the Estancia team. He said he simply knows that he took the matter to the CIF office and that the Eagles are cleared.

“I’m proud of the fact that [Costa Mesa principal] Ed Wong and I have a good relationship,” D’Agostino said. “I appreciate the rivalry that the schools have. It’s not very common that we see such a good rivalry with respect from both sides.

“I look forward to seeing our boys compete Thursday.”